Guitar thief faces the music

A prolific burglar who tried to steal a musician’s guitar during a bungled burglary has been jailed for almost three years.

Cornelius Price, 37, of Chatsworth Street, Fishwick, Preston, UK, forced his way through the side door of a house on Ribbleton Hall Drive, Ribbleton, Preston.

Price, described as a career burglar by police, committed the burglary on March 11 this year after spotting the black acoustic guitar through a front window while the owner was out.

However, as the thief tried to leave with the instrument he was confronted by the guitarist who had returned home while he was still in the house, police said.

Price, whose street nickname is Mushy, dropped the £150 guitar and fled the scene on a bike.

When police officers attended the house and got a description of the burglar, unemployed Price was an immediate suspect.

Officers searched the Ribbleton area for him and later found him on Pope Lane where he was arrested.

Price, a single man who has had drugs problems in the past, admitted the burglary and had two other break ins taken into consideration during his sentencing at Preston Crown Court.

Judge Robert Brown sentenced him to two years and nine months in prison.

Today DC Warren Gibson, who investigated the case, said: “ He is a serial burglar. He is an individual who has been out and committed various crimes over many years.

“He has a substantial criminal record.

“We are happy with the sentence and his guilty plea prevented the victim from having to come to court. On this occasion we were very fortunate to recover the stolen property.”

Source: http://www.lep.co.uk/