Brave neighbours half one man crime wave (From Warrington Guardian)

Brave neighbours half one man crime wave

A ONE-MAN crime wave who stole from 13 houses in his own Crewe street was jailed for 15 months at Chester Crown Court on Tuesday.

John Billington, aged 56, of South Street, stole from nearly every one of his neighbours before they caught him in the act and alerted the police.

In just two weeks at the beginning of November, he broke into five houses and eight garden sheds in South Street and adjoining Catherine Street.

Billington was eventually caught when a neighbour noticed him entering a garden shed one night in early December.

The neighbour rounded-up other residents and they stood outside his house blocking his exit while they waited for the police to arrive.

When the police turned up, Billington confessed to the break-ins and showed officers his mass collection of stolen items.

One of his victims Greg Hulme, who owns South Street News, formed part of the barricade outside Billington's house.

He said: "It's heart-warming that the community came together to catch this man.

"Three neighbours stood at his back door and I stood at the front door and called the police.

"It took them an hour-and-a-quarter to arrive.

"But when they got in his house it was like Aladdin's Cave, with bikes, microwaves, you name it, that he had stolen.

"There was so much stolen stuff that it took the police two-and-a-half hours to fill their van with it all."

Mr Hulme had over £2,000 worth of damage done to his car after Billington sprayed it with paint.

"He committed a crime against everyone on the block, it was as if he was trying to get even with everybody," added Mr Hulme.

Billington's sentencing had been deferred so psychiatric reports could be prepared.

"I don't think he was mad, I just think he was bad and he got what he deserved," added Mr Hulme.

Billington pleaded guilty to three burglaries and asked for 12 similar offences to be considered.