'Number one burglary target' jailed

A man dubbed Great Manchester Police's number one burglary target asked for a number of burglaries in Middleton to be taken into consideration when he was sentenced to four and a half years in jail today (Friday 9 October).

Stephen Brady, 42, from Morecambe, earlier pleaded guilty to three offences of burglary at Bolton Crown Court.

Brady is a prolific offender whose favourite method of entry was to climb onto house roofs, using a brick to smash his way into people's homes.

The burglaries for which Brady was sentenced all happened in the Bury area but he also asked for 15 other burglaries and attempted break-ins across Bury, Prestwich and Middleton to be taken into consideration.

Detective Inspector Marcus Noden, of Operation Storm - Greater Manchester Police's forcewide initiative geared to driving down burglaries and increasing convictions, said: "Burglary is a dreadful crime and leaves so many victims with the sickening feeling of having their homes violated.

"Brady is a career criminal who has left a trail of misery behind him and I hope he now uses his time in prison to think about the effect his actions have had on his victims.

"Burglary across the force is decreasing, but we are not becoming complacent. This publicity is just one of many tactics that Operation Storm is using to disrupt the activities of the most prolific burglars.

"The message is simple, we know who you are, we know where you live and if you commit a crime, you will be targeted and brought to justice."