Man jailed for handling stolen goods from a spate of burglaries in Norwich and Diss

Wayne Sellers, 47, was arrested in connection with four burglaries which took place in Diss and Norwich between May and September last year.

Sellers pleaded guilty to six counts of handling stolen goods when he appeared in King's Lynn crown court on Monday, January 15.

The court heard how Sellers worked as a general dealer and tried to sell items stolen from houses in Pursehouse Way, in Diss, as well as Anthony Drive, Sprowston Road, Fairstead Road and Bowthorpe in Norwich.

Barrister Danielle O'Donovan, prosecuting, said Sellers was arrested at his brother's address, Skelton Road, in Diss, where he was living at the time, for burglary matters.

She said he was arrested only four days after a burglary took place in Norwich, where a watch, tablet, wireless keyboard and a rucksack was stolen from a student's house. All of the items were found in Sellers' brother's home.

Ms O'Donovan added: 'Mr Sellers is a man without good character, he has a number of previous convictions.

'He was born in 1970 and the offending begins in 1988. Significantly, 37 of his previous convictions are for theft and kindred offences.'

Lori Tucker, mitigating for Sellers, said that while he has an 'unhappy' criminal record, his last serious offence of dishonesty was in 2001 in which he was sentenced to 21 months in jail.

Ms Tucker added: 'He is a man who was living in Diss at the time providing support to his older brother who is suffering from cancer. 'He had previously engaged in civil engineering and then moved on to become a general dealer, buying and selling goods. These were far from the major part of his stock.

'He accepts that these items were stolen and he has to face the consequences.'

Recorder Justin Rouse QC sentenced Sellers to 21 months in jail.

He told the defendant: 'Those who commit domestic burglary do so for financial gain and the handler can be equally culpable.

'There is a clear pattern of dishonesty all through your life.'