A burglar who started breaking into homes when he was just a boy in the 1980s is once again behind bars.
Stephen Harold, 50, had been in prison for four years after being convicted of burglary when he was released on licence on May 10 this year. Harold is now back in prison after being charged with further burglary offences.
On Monday, June 6, Wirral police received reports someone had stolen jewellery and personal belongings after entering through the back door of a house in Withert Avenue, Higher Bebington early in the morning. Police also received reports the same person had tried the front door of a house on the same street that morning.
READ MORE: Burglar who has targeted Merseyside homes for three decades is back behind bars
Two days later, at 2pm, a man was reported acting suspiciously on the front pathways of a number of West Kirby homes. Police attended and Harold was detained near Black Horse Hill. A short while later someone living on Black Horse Hill reported the rear door of their home had been forced open and someone had been in their house, though nothing was taken.
Harold, of Bentinck Place, Birkenhead, was arrested and charged with one burglary and theft, two attempted burglaries and two counts of assault of an emergency worker. He was subsequently recalled to prison for breach of the conditions of his release, and will serve the remainder of his sentence until May 2023.
Detective inspector Tony O'Brien, who leads Operation Castle, Merseyside Police’s dedicated operation to reduce the number of burglaries in the county said: “Harold’s arrest and return to prison shows that Merseyside Police is relentless in our pursuit of those offenders who have no regard for the safety and security of people living in our communities.
“Harold repeatedly burgled and attempted to burgle homes in Wirral and in doing so violated the very place those residents have every right to feel safe.
"Information from the public about suspicious activity in their area is a vital part of our efforts to put offenders like Harold before the courts and prevent them offending again, and I appeal to anyone who sees suspicious activity in their area to get in touch.”
In 2016, a court heard about Harold's burgling after he had been caught hiding in a garden with Xbox games stuffed down his top after entering a family home. At the time he had amassed 24 convictions for burgling homes and a further 44 convictions for dishonesty offences.
Judge Alan Conrad, QC, said: “For the past 30 years you have been committing offences of dwelling house burglary. Nothing has stopped you and nothing has caused you to change your ways – neither long sentences nor sentences designed to help you in reforming."
Anyone who witnesses suspicious activity in their area can DM Merseyside Police Contact Centre on Twitter or ‘Merseyside Police Contact Centre’ on Facebook or call 101. You can also call Crimestoppers, anonymously on 0800 555 111, or report via their online form at https://orlo.uk/M1gUi
