'Prolific' East Lancashire school burglar jailed

5:09pm Thursday 22nd May 2008

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By David Watkinson »

A PROLIFIC burglar who repeatedly targeted schools, stealing a total of £15,000 of computer equipment, has been jailed.

Drug user Michael Jackson made a "conscious decision" to target schools rather than homes, a court heard.

Jackson was arrested after he had sized up a school, returned later and smashed a window with a lump of concrete to get in and take two laptops.

He was arrested five days later and confessed to burgling two other schools.

The 23-year-old of Ferndale, Blackburn, appeared for sentence at Preston Crown Court after previously admitting burglary.

He also admitted possession of heroin with intent to supply and possession of crack cocaine with intent to supply.

He was jailed for a total of three years.

The court heard that Jackson had a prolific criminal record and was released from prison only a matter of days before he went on another burglary spree in January.

The court heard that in the past two years he had burgled 17 schools, taking a total of £14,950 in property and causing damage amounting to at least £4,600.

Mercedah Jabbari, prosecuting, told the court the burglary at Audley Junior and Infant School had taken place on January 11.

The school had been left locked by the school supervisor and the following day the burglary was discovered.

A window had been smashed with a slab of concrete and glass strewn across the classroom.

A search had taken place and a laptop had gone missing.

Miss Jabbari said Jackson admitted when interviewed that he had cased the school out and returned later to make the thefts.

He said he sold the computers to pay for his drugs.

Jackson asked for two other burglaries to be taken into consideration.

They involved Holy Trinity school in Darwen and Rishton Methodist School.

He also asked for two thefts from cars to be taken into consideration.

Tim Storrie, defending, said Jackson has a policy to steal from schools rather than homes.

Recorder Alan Booth told Jackson: "Things have not been easy for you but that does not begin to excuse criminality on this scale."