Man jailed after pleading guilty to Northwich burglary

A man who burgled a commercial premises in Northwich has been jailed.

Paul Matei appeared at Chester Magistrates’ Court on Friday 27th February where he was sentenced to 12 months in prison.

The 37-year-old of Liston Close in Luton, had earlier pleaded guilty to one count of burglary.

During the evening of Thursday 19th February, several unknown offenders gained unauthorised access to a commercial premises on Griffiths Road, Northwich, and stole £50,000 worth of power tools and copper cabling before fleeing the scene.

The incident was reported to police the next day.

Following enquiries, officers from Northwich Proactive CID identified a white Ford Transit van involved in the incident. The van had travelled from Luton to Northwich and back again on the day of the burglary.

After establishing Matei was insured on the vehicle, officers attended his address in Luton and conducted a search of his home where they recovered a significant quantity of the stolen tools.

Matei was arrested and subsequently charged with the offence of burglary.

Four other men were also arrested and charged in relation to the incident and have since pleaded guilty at Chester Magistrates’ Court on Friday 6 March.

They are due to be sentenced at Chester Crown Court on Friday 17th April.

Detective Sergeant John Lyons of Northwich Proactive CID said: 

“I welcome the sentence handed to Matei, and I hope this result assures residents and local businesses that we will always go the extra mile to protect our communities.

“In this case, our team travelled to Luton to put Matei and his associates before the courts, and in doing so we recovered a substantial amount of the stolen equipment.

“Anyone who chooses to come to Cheshire to commit crime should be in no doubt, we will track you down, and you will be brought to justice.”

Pictured - Paul Matei of Liston Close in Luton.