Burglar identified after sock is left at crime scene
A sock left at a crime scene helped Kent Police identify a repeat burglar, who led officers on a high speed pursuit before he was arrested in Gillingham.
Roy Scott was identified as a suspect following a series of offences committed across Medway between August and December 2018.
He was spotted by patrols driving a vehicle in Gillingham in December but, instead of stopping, he attempted to get away by speeding, driving on the wrong side of the road, ignoring red lights and driving through a pedestrian zone.
The 36-year-old, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to one residential burglary, two commercial burglaries, dangerous driving and the attempted burglary of another commercial premises.
He was sentenced to three years and eight months at Maidstone Crown Court.
The court heard that at around 10.10pm on Saturday 22 December 2018 officers on patrol saw Scott, who they knew was a suspect for burglary offences, driving a Kia Sedona in Pier Road.
They requested him to pull over in The Strand. However, he drove away at speed, prompting a pursuit which came to an end after he mounted the central reservation in Dock Road.
Prior to the pursuit ending Scott drove on the wrong side of Church Street, ignored red traffic lights in Railway Street and drove through a no entry sign onto Gillingham High Street – an area that is closed to traffic.
Following his arrest, Scott was charged with one burglary dwelling, two counts of burglary other than dwelling, one attempted burglary other than dwelling and dangerous driving.
The burglary took place between 11am and 1pm and saw jewellery stolen from a home in Victoria Street.
Scott was known to the victims and the items were returned after police located them in a pawnbroker shop in Chatham.
The first commercial burglary saw a newsagent in Strood High Street targeted on the night of 3 and 4 August 2018. A quantity of cigarettes was stolen along with cash, a mobile phone and a tablet computer.
A handprint left on the inside of a window provided a DNA match for Scott.
The second commercial burglary also saw cigarettes stolen, this time from a supermarket in Cuxton Road, Strood. It took place during the early hours of 27 October and a sock left at the scene provided a DNA profile for Scott.
During this offence Scott was accompanied by an unidentified man. Enquiries to identify this person remain ongoing.
On 29 October Scott then attempted to smash the window of a jewellery shop in George Street, Cranbrook, but he was unable to gain entry.
Dried blood on shattered glass left at the scene provided a DNA match for Scott.
In addition to the prison sentence, Scott was also banned from driving for 45 months.