Burglar and car thief put behind bars

A burglar who broke into homes as people slept and stole a car from outside a hospital has been jailed.

Steven Sunderland entered two properties on the same street in Clifton, Nottingham, during the early hours of the morning and walked into bedrooms.

He was caught on street CCTV footage trying door handles as he sneaked around the neighbourhood on 16 July 2023.

Sunderland entered one flat through a patio door and walked into a bedroom where two children were sleeping.

He was also seen on CCTV footage from within the property going into the parents’ bedroom before leaving without taking anything.

He continued further down the street trying another door handle and entering the porch area of a further address.

Four days later, Sunderland stole a car which had been parked outside the children’s A&E department at the Queen’s Medical Centre.

The vehicle, which had been left while its owner sought emergency medical treatment, was later found being driven on false number plates in Clifton.

Sunderland pleaded guilty to two counts of burglary with intent to steal, one attempted burglary, theft of a motor vehicle and driving while disqualified and without insurance.

The 33-year-old, of Waterdown Road, Clifton, Nottingham, appeared at Nottingham Crown Court on Wednesday (18 October) where he was jailed for a total of three years and four months.

He was also given a 27-month driving ban.

Detective Sergeant Rob Palethorpe, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: “No one deserves to have their safe space invaded by an opportunistic criminal like Sunderland.

“People understandably want to feel safe in their own homes – and that is why we have two dedicated burglary teams covering the whole county to find those responsible and bring them to justice.

“We understand the impact a burglary can have on a person, family, and those in the wider community.

“Targeting and stealing a car which was parked outside a hospital is also a despicable crime which must have been extremely upsetting for the victim.

“I hope this sentence provides some reassurance to the public that we will carry out a very thorough investigation into any home burglary or car theft and do everything we can to bring justice to victims.”