Addict Joseph Sargeant raided Southampton homes to fund habit (From This is Hampshire)

Addict Joseph Sargeant raided Southampton homes to fund habit

5:20pm Monday 21st December 2009 in

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A HEROIN addict who burgled homes across Southampton to fund his habit has been jailed for five and a half years.

Joseph Sargeant’s haul was usually electrical items, especially laptop computers, which he took from the properties he raided across the city.

On some occasions he also helped himself to jewellery from the homes which never showed any sign of forced entry.

During his burgling spree Sargeant, pictured right, struck in Ordnance Road, Northam Road, Hartington Road, Carlton Place, St Mary Street, Almatade Road, Union Road, Westridge Road and Bernard Street.

The 40-year-old, from James Street, St Mary’s, was finally caught by police and was charged with two counts of burglary but asked for a further 11 to be taken into account.

Southampton Crown Court heard how he had a substantial list of previous convictions as he was jailed for five and a half years.

Speaking after the case, Det Insp Dave Jackson from the priority crime unit at Hulse Road, said: “This is indicative of a person who has got hooked on Class A drugs and funded that habit by committing serious crime.

“He has now obviously received a substantial sentence in recognition of those offences. This will give a lot of his victims some sense of satisfaction, having suffered what is a very intrusive crime.”