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Burglar admits stealing from friend
2:33pm Friday 9th May 2008
A BURGLAR caught red-handed as he raided a friend's home was ordered to carry out 80 hours of unpaid work.
Unemployed Craig Bird, 23, broke into the house in Denver Drive, Basildon, and was searching for valuables when the owner returned.
When Bird, of Riverview Close, Laindon, was arrested, he admitted the burglary and confessed to burgling the shop at Barleylands Farm, Billericay.
Bird, who has a catalogue of previous convictions, also owned up to stealing clothes and valuables worth £250 from a friend, a Ford Focus from a woman he knew, driving while disqualified and having no insurance.
Judge Michael Brooke QC also sentenced Bird to ten months in prison, suspended for 18-months and ordered him to complete the Think First probation programme.
EDITOR'S CHOICE
Dog killed in house blaze
A FAMILY'S pet dog has been killed in a fierce house blaze in Pitsea. Four crews rushed to the scene of the fire, in Wythefield, at about 4pm. While making a search of the family home firefighters pulled out two greyhound dogs. But one of the dogs had already died from smoke inhilation.
Firefighters free child stuck in roundabout in Leigh
A YOUNGSTER who became stuck in a park roundabout had to be cut free by firefighters.
Police dig for woman's body
POLICE who have spent a week digging up land in Hockley are searching for the body of a woman who went missing 40 years ago, the Echo can reveal.
Meet survivors from Dragons' Den
CUCUMBER covers and kiss-casting kits may have failed to impress TV’s Dragons, but they are set to make an impression at a Southend garden show this weekend.
Gentle but firm policing to curb the kerb-crawlers
THEY are girls on the game and their sad stories tend to sound very similar... tales of drug abuse, mental illness and debt.
Plush hotel planned for Garon Park
PROPOSALS for an upmarket hotel linked to sporting facilities in Garon Park will be submitted to Southend Council in the next two months.
Call for funding to fight floods
THE leader of Castle Point Council has called on the Government to give assurances on future funding to tackle the risk of flooding.
Southend census figures WERE wrong
A NATIONAL think-tank has backed Southend Council’s claim the 2001 census underestimated the number of people living in the town.
Arsonists destroy £10,000 of wheat in field
A FARMER lost £10,000 of wheat in an arson attack which destroyed a quarter of a field.
'Shoddy' revamp work sparks flood fears for Broadway
UNHAPPY residents claim some improvements to a main street in Thorpe Bay may cause the road to regularly flood.
In this section
- Dog killed in house blaze
- Firefighters free child stuck in roundabout in Leigh
- Police dig for woman's body
- Sharing kid’s centre is a boon to health clinic
- Former Wickford vet Ben writes best seller
- Meet survivors from Dragons' Den
- Gentle but firm policing to curb the kerb-crawlers
- 'Flats would steal neighbours' view'
- Plush hotel planned for Garon Park
- Taxi driver sees red after he's robbed in his cab
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