Builders and off-duty police officer caught two Wigan men who broke into a house in Cheshire

David Warburton, of Moss Lane, Platt Bridge, and Dwayne Madden, of Sycamore Avenue, Golborne, are beginning prison sentences after pleading guilty to burglary.

Warburton was jailed for four years and Madden was handed a three-year prison sentence at Chester Crown Court. They were also ordered to each pay a £181 victim surcharge.

The court heard the pair travelled to Knutsford on the morning of Friday, February 7 and broke into a house on Bexton Lane via the back door.

They searched the property and stole cash and jewellery.

While the pair were searching the house, they activated the burglar alarm, which caught the attention of two builders working at a nearby property.

They went to the house and noticed that the back door had been damaged. They also spotted Warburton and Madden acting suspiciously nearby.

The builders informed the owner of the property they were working at what they had seen and she told her son, a serving officer with a neighbouring police force.

He went to the house and, after establishing that a burglary had taken place, contacted Cheshire Constabulary and began searching the area for the burglars.

Madden was found by the off-duty officer on Gough Road and arrested by officers from Cheshire Constabulary. Warburton was located and arrested in a wooded area near Toft Road.

After sentencing, Det Con Hasan Hasircioglu, who led the investigation, said: “Burglary is a serious offence in which victims are targeted in their own home, which is the place you should be able to feel most safe.

“Whilst the victim in this case was not at home at the time of the incident, it has still has a major impact on them.

“I hope that the sentences handed to Warburton and Madden and will provide them with some closure.

“The pair travelled to Knutsford on that day intent of breaking into an address. They came equipped to commit their crime and specifically targeted a house in an affluent area.

“Thankfully, as a result of two eagle-eyed builders and the support of an off-duty officer, Warburton and Madden are both behind bars facing the consequences of their actions.

“I would like thank all those involved in this case for helping to make the streets of Cheshire safer for everyone.”

David Keane, Police and Crime Commissioner for Cheshire, added: “I understand the impact that burglary can have on victims which is why it is one of my key priorities.

“I would like to praise the work of Cheshire Constabulary’s officers in bringing the perpetrators of this despicable crime to justice. I welcome the sentences handed to Warburton and Madden and I hope that the sentences act as a warning for other offenders who are looking to come to Cheshire to commit crime.”

A message from the Editorial Director, Gillian Parkinson:

Thank you for reading this story on our website.

But I also have an urgent plea to make of you.

In order for us to continue to provide high quality local news on this free-to-read site and in print, please purchase a copy of our newspaper as well.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on our town centres and many of our valued advertisers - and consequently the advertising that we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you buying a copy when you pop out for your essential shop or subscribing for delivery.

Our journalists are highly trained by the National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ) and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the most rigorous standards anywhere in the world. Our content is universally trusted - as all independent research proves.

As Baroness Barran said in a House of Lords debate this week on the importance of journalists: "Not only are they a trusted source of facts, but they will have a role to play in rallying communities and getting the message across about how we can keep ourselves and our families safe, and protect our NHS. Undoubtedly, they have a critical role."

But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. So we need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis. In return we will continue to forensically cover the local news - not only the impact of the virus but all the positive and uplifting news happening in these dark days.

We thank all our readers and advertisers for their understanding and support - and we wish YOU all the best in the coming weeks. Keep safe, and follow the Government advice. Thank you.

HOW TO SUBSCRIBE:

You can subscribe for delivery by contacting us at [email protected] or calling us on 0330 4033004 for details of a participating newsagent near you.