Thief steals £16,000 hidden in grandfather clock

A man who broke into an 80-year-old's home and stole thousands of pounds hidden in a grandfather clock has been jailed.

Sam Smith, 23, went to the house in Warboys on 16 March 2023 and offered to paint the victim's front door and windowsill for £400, Cambridgeshire Police said.

Having seen his victim take money out of the grandfather clock to pay him, Smith returned at about 23:00 GMT using a sledgehammer to break the back door and steal £16,000 from the clock.

He has been jailed for four years and nine months at Cambridge Crown Court.

The defendant, of Common Road in Potton, Bedfordshire, was found guilty of burglary and fraud.

Smith tipped the victim out of bed, which left him needing hospital treatment for minor injuries, the force said.

Police said officers found Smith's DNA on the sledgehammer which had been left at the scene and he was arrested on 30 March 2023.

In an impact statement, the victim said he struggled to get to sleep at night and was "scared" someone would come back.

PC Andy Smith said: "This was a despicable burglary and fraud where Smith took advantage of a vulnerable elderly man.

"Sadly, the case also demonstrates the lasting psychological impact burglary can have on victims and shows why it remains a force priority.

"We will continue to do all we can to get those who target vulnerable people before the courts."

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