Burglar who went on crime spree in Boston and Skegness jailed
A burglar who went on a crime spree across the Boston and Skegness area was today (Friday, January 2) jailed for two-and-a-half years.
Angel Iliev, 21, a Bulgarian national, was caught after CCTV showed him entering the White Cat caravan park, in Old Leake, with Daniela Dimitrova, 31, at 5am on July 22.
Lincoln Crown Court was told the occupier of a caravan was awoken by a knock on the door and later discovered her handbag, a mobile phone and a man's watch were missing after falling back to sleep.
Police recovered a passport belonging to the victim and the watch when they stopped Dimitrova later the same day – Dimitrova was driving her car in Roman Bank, Skegness, with Iliev in the front passenger seat.
A review of footage from the White Cat caravan park showed a previous visit by the pair on May 21, when Iliev could be seen carrying away a drill box valued at £100 from a storage unit while Dimitrova was acting as a ‘lookout’, the court was told.
Iliev, formerly of Main Ridge East, Boston, later admitted two charges of burglary and six other offences.
They included the theft of a CCTV camera from an address in Pen Street, Boston, on March 13, and the burglary of a caravan in Mumby Park, Skegness, on May 12, where items including a Nintendo Switch, an Apple watch and a £5 gift voucher were stolen.
Iliev also pleaded guilty to stealing sentimental items during a house burglary in Witham Bank, Boston, on May 29, and taking a £350 bike from a garage in Park Road, Boston, on July 16.
He also admitted the theft of an electric bike worth £1,700 from outside Poundland in Boston on July 15 and stealing a second electric bike from a Co-op store in Woodville Road, Boston, on July 17.
Jeremy Jaines, in mitigation for Iliev, said his crime spree was instigated by an addiction to drugs.
“Thankfully his time on remand in custody has left him drugs-free and he has gained employment in the prison as a cleaner,” Mr Jaines told the court. “He now wishes to remain in this country on his release.”
The court was told Dimitrova, formerly of Main Ridge East, Boston, was now homeless and has a child living in her native Bulgaria. She pleaded guilty to one charge of burglary and one offence of handling stolen goods.
Neil Sands, in mitigation for Dimitrova, said she was not suitable for unpaid work in the community.
Passing sentence, Judge Simon Hirst told Iliev he had to pass an immediate jail sentence.
Dimitrova was sentenced to 10 months’ imprisonment, suspended for 12 months.