Burglar jailed after police track him down on phone number he gave to victim
A heartless burglar who targeted an elderly and vulnerable woman has been jailed after he was tracked down by police - thanks to a phone number he gave to his victim.
Antony Wilks posed as a workman and offered to clean the gutters of the victim’s home - taking money from her before raiding her drawers while her back was turned.
The 31-year-old also stole her purse, jewellery and a 43-inch television, but crucially had given his victim a telephone number for her to contact him on.
South Yorkshire Police used the number to track down Wilks, of Queens Crescent, Edlington, and he pleaded guilty to burglary dwelling and theft.
He was jailed for three years at Sheffield Crown Court on Thursday (May 28).
PC Josh Kubon, who was the officer in charge of the case against Wilks, said: "Wilks' offending was cruel and heartless, as he took advantage of an elderly and vulnerable woman by invading her home and stealing precious jewellery and possessions.
"The nature of this offending has not only an obvious financial impact but a psychological impact too.
"Your home should be your safe space and everyone who works on the Op Castle team is driven to find those responsible for residential burglaries and bring them to justice."
Wilks is one of a number of people jailed as part of South Yorkshire Police’s Operation Castle, which aims to crackdown on thefts in Doncaster.
Also jailed for three years earlier this week was Liam Shead, who targeted parked vehicles in Doncaster before driving off in them.
Detectives investigated patterns of offending and the 34-year-old, of Rowena Drive, Scawsby, admitted six counts of theft of a motor vehicle and was jailed at the same court as Wilks on Tuesday (May 26).
Police Constable Sammy Thorpe, who was the officer in charge of Shead’s case, said: "Shead was stopped in a stolen vehicle and immediately taken into custody.
"His phone was downloaded revealing videos, text messages, voice notes and photos related to the cars he had stolen.
"His offending was premeditated and planned, and we believe the vehicles he stole were then driven up and down the country and being sold on false plates."