A man has been jailed for attempting to burgle a tea room at a popular tourist spot on Great Yarmouth's Golden Mile.

Paul Bateman, 43, appeared before Norwich Crown Court on February 7 for sentencing, after pleading guilty to attempted burglary of the Merrivale Model Village tea tooms at an earlier court hearing.

Police had investigated break-ins at the Merrivale Model Village tea rooms off Marine Parade which took place during September last year.

Bateman, of no fixed abode but from the Great Yarmouth area, was arrested on September 17 on suspicion of burglary.

He was taken to Great Yarmouth police station where he was questioned and further arrested for an attempted burglary.

Bateman was charged with burglary and attempted burglary in relation to the Marine Parade incidents.

The burglary charge was later dropped by the Crown Prosecution Service at court due to insufficient evidence.

Bateman was sentenced to 28 months in jail for the attempted burglary, with five other offences taken into consideration at court under Operation Converter, an initiative aimed at encouraging offenders to admit their crimes. 

These were for offences relating to three burglaries on Marine Parade in August 2022, one burglary of a garage on River Walk in September 2022, and one attempted burglary of a property in Northgate Street from December 25, 2021.

Police staff supervisor Duncan Etchells, from the Operation Converter TIC Unit, said: “This work has allowed us to give closure and reassurance to all the victims in this case, and whilst he’s in prison, Bateman is unable to reoffend.

"Although remorseful for his actions, he’ll have some extra time to reflect on how his crimes have impacted the local community.” 

Offenders have to give sufficient detail for officers to be sure they have committed the crime and these offences are then ‘taken into consideration’ at sentencing.