Man Admits Burglary Spree While High

A Cambridge man admitted going on a burglary spree while high on alcohol and medication.

Nicholas Gallagher, 50, of Elizabeth Way, Cambridge, told police he drank a bottle of brandy and took prescribed medication before sobering up to find jewellery, cameras and a carriage clock in his possession.

On 9 October last year (2021) he smashed through the glass panel of a front door in Queen Edith’s Way and took some sentimental jewellery, a carriage clock worth £1,000 as well as three kitchen knives.

He then went on to a property in Beaumont Road where he took £25,000 of jewellery as well as other items after smashing through the rear patio doors. He left the stolen knives and his blood stains in one of the bedrooms.

Forensics linked Gallagher’s DNA to the scene and he was tracked down on 15 October to a bed and breakfast in Great Yarmouth where he was arrested.

Officers recovered a backpack containing some of the stolen items from Beaumont Road.

Gallagher admitted both burglaries and told detectives which shops he’d pawned the jewellery to and where he’d abandoned other items.

He also admitted two further burglaries on 10 October in Shelford Road, Cambridge and Southwell Drive, Trumpington and an attempted burglary in Whittle Avenue, Trumpington.

At Cambridge Crown Court, Gallagher was sentenced to four years in prison after previously pleading guilty to two counts of burglary and having an article with a blade or point.