Southampton man jailed for stealing from cars in Norfolk Road

Jimmy Green was spotted in broad daylight trying every car door handle along Norfolk Road in the Shirley area of Southampton.

The 30-year-old of Mardale Walk, Southampton, was even spotted trying the handles of cars parked on driveways.

Prosecution barrister, Lucie Taylor told how Green stole a holdall containing a pair of wellington boots from a vehicle that had been left unsecured.

When one man later checked his car, he also found that a black faux leather purse containing change had gone missing.

Miss Taylor told how members of the public took photos of Green and how one had even pursued him.

The court heard how a month before, Green had attempted to burgle two homes in Holbury Drove in Holbury.

Miss Taylor said that a homeowner was awoken at around 4am by the sound of a gate rattling and a security light coming on.

When the woman opened her curtains, she saw Green with his right hand through a bathroom window.

She asked him ‘what he thought he was doing’, to which he replied ‘yeh, all right’ and walked away.

A neighbour later checked his Ring doorbell footage which showed Green trying the door of the property.

However, when he found it was locked, he moved down the road.

Appearing before Southampton Crown Court, Green was charged with two counts of theft from a motor vehicle and two counts of attempted burglary.

He pleaded guilty to the offences that happened between March and April this year.

Green has 12 previous convictions for 23 offences - these include other burglaries, thefts and driving matters.

Defending, Edward Hand said that his client did not have any recollection of the events and was “immersed in drug addiction” at the time.

However, he nonetheless felt “ashamed” of his offending.

When sentencing, Judge Christopher Parker QC scolded Green saying, “you were disturbed and caught red-handed”.

He jailed him for a total of 27 months.