‘Prolific offender’ convicted twice in one week

Robert Mayers, 18, was arrested after he tried to break into a home in West Avenue, Worthing, on July 26.

He pleaded guilty to a charge of attempted burglary when he appeared at Crawley Magistrates’ Court on August 14 and was given a 16-week suspended jail sentence and ordered to pay £85 costs and an £80 victim surcharge.

A week earlier Mayers, of Whitebeam Road, Durrington, had appeared at Worthing Magistrates’ Court where he had pleaded guilty to two burglaries and an attempted burglary in Worthing.

During that hearing he was given a six-month suspended prison sentence, was made the subject of a 12-month supervision order and was ordered to do 200 hours of community service. He was also ordered to pay £1,000 compensation to his victims, an £80 victim surcharge and £85 costs.

The suspended sentences follow each other so that if Mayers is convicted of an offence within the next ten months he will be sentenced again for the burglaries and attempted burglaries.

Detective Inspector Dave Wardley-Wilkins said: “Mayers has been a prolific offender around Worthing who has caused a great deal of pain and suffering to his victims.

“If you are the victim of burglary you never forget the feeling that your home has been violated by an intruder.

“The sentencing of Mayers means that although he has not been sent to prison, if he commits another offence he could be. He now has a choice – to change his ways, behave and become a member of the community or continue offending and risk being jailed.”

Sussex Police launched Operation Magpie to tackle burglary across the county.

The operation has also led to the arrest of an 18-year-old man, from Worthing, for an attempted burglary in Cissbury Road, Worthing, on July 5. He was released on bail until October 23.

Anyone with information about burglaries should call 101 or email [email protected]. For crime prevention advice visit www.sussex.police.uk

Residents are also being encouraged to register their items on the world’s largest property database, so that if they are stolen, they can be reunited with the owners.

Property can be registered in just a few minutes by visiting www.immobilise.com. To watch a video about Immobilise and how it works, visit www.youtube.com/watch?v=0XZ66WEER_c