A SERIAL burglar who breached schools’ security, often while teachers and pupils were inside, has been jailed.

Peter Everall burgled educational establishments because he considered them ‘soft targets’.

Recorder Tania Griffiths QC, sitting at Burnley Crown Court, told Everall, who has struck across East Lancashire: “You are not the sort of person that, when parents drop their children off at the school gates, and gives them a kiss on the cheek, they want to see their son or daughter confronted by you later in the day.”

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While Miss Recorder Griffiths QC said the 40-year-old did not pose a direct danger to youngsters, parents would be ‘horrified’ at his repeated intrusions on school property.

Everall, who has raided more than 120 schools and similar premises, was jailed for 40 months.

Stephen Parker, prosecuting, said that the first offence in Everall’s latest series of offending took place at Oakenhurst Farm, Lower Darwen, when he stole an iPhone from the coat pocket of waitress Emma Naylor in a staff area at the pub. Everall was later traced because of his distinctive tattoos.

The court heard that the first school raid took place after hours at St Mary’s Primary, Rawtenstall on April 14 when the school bursar briefly left money pouches in a desk drawer while she dealt with a visitor.

Everall broke into her office and the empty money pouches, which had contained £50, were found by a pupil in the school grounds later.

Mr Parker said the next incident occurred when Susan Cowkin, who works in the offices at Ribblesdale High in Clitheroe, had been to speak to someone at the main doors.

When she returned to her office, she came face-to-face with Everall.

Later, she discovered that an iPhone 6 had gone missing. CCTV was checked and Everall was later arrested.

Mr Parker said that when Everall was caught out walking around Hollins Technology College by teacher Stuart Parkinson one morning, he claimed some pupils had damaged his car and he had followed them to the high school to remonstrate them.

The teacher tried to help Everall track down the supposed vandals, to no avail. But it was later discovered that someone had attempted to force drawers in a school office and the intruder’s fingerprints were found.

Everall, of Hud Rake, Haslingden, admitted three offences of burglary and one charge of attempted burglary.

Tim Storrie, defending, said that the defendant was in the grip of a serious gambling addiction which he struggled to explain and had led to his life becoming little more than a ‘catastrophe’.

He added: “These are designed to be offences which target relatively minor amounts of cash. Larger amounts would be a bonus or a boon. He picks items that are easily sold on...and the proceeds end up with his bookmaker.”

The court heard that Everall had a young son, who has a degenerative muscular condition, and the defendant realised his failings as a father for the boy, and his wider family.

Everall’s previous offending - he now has 140 burglary convictions including house break-ins - has seen him rifling through the pockets of pupils at St Christopher’s in Accrington, while they undertook PE lessons, and being caught red-handed in the school office at Peel Brow Primary in Ramsbottom after hours.