Doncaster car thief and heartless burglar jailed in Op Castle crackdown on thefts

A prolific car thief and a burglar are the latest to be jailed following thorough investigations by Doncaster's dedicated Operation Castle team.

Op Castle is Doncaster's dedicated and detective-led approach to tackling and investigating residential burglaries in the city.

So far this year, it has seen multiple offenders jailed for a total of almost 40 years, with Liam Shead and Antony Wilks both sent to prison this week.

Shead committed a series of car thefts, with the 34-year-old targeting parked vehicles in Doncaster before driving off in them.

Op Castle incorporates a team of detectives who investigate patterns of offending and once it was clear in this instance that Shead was responsible for multiple thefts, a comprehensive package of evidence was compiled to ensure he could be held accountable for every single offence he committed.

Police Constable Sammy Thorpe, who was the officer in charge of this case, said:

"Shead was stopped in a stolen vehicle and immediately taken into custody.

"His phone was downloaded revealing videos, text messages, voice notes and photos related to the cars he had stolen.

"His offending was premeditated and planned, and we believe the vehicles he stole were then driven up and down the country and being sold on false plates."

With the evidence against Shead laid out to him, the 34-year-old of Rowena Drive, Scawsby, pleaded guilty to six counts of theft of a motor vehicle and was jailed for three years during a sentencing hearing at Sheffield Crown Court on Tuesday (26 May).

Antony Wilks has also been jailed after he targeted an elderly woman and stole from her home while posing as a workman.

Wilks offered to clean her gutters and took money from her before raiding her drawer while her back was turned.

Wilks stole her purse and sentimental jewellery as well as 43-inch TV.

However, Wilks was identified and traced thanks to telecommunications work after he gave the victim a telephone number to ring him on.

Wilks, 31, of Queens Crescent, Edlington, pleaded guilty to burglary dwelling and theft and was also given a three-year prison sentence at Sheffield Crown Court on Thursday (28 May).

PC Josh Kubon, who was the officer in charge of the case against Wilks, said:

"Wilks' offending was cruel and heartless, as he took advantage of an elderly and vulnerable woman by invading her home and stealing precious jewellery and possessions.

"The nature of this offending has not only an obvious financial impact but a psychological impact too.

"Your home should be your safe space and everyone who works on the Op Castle team is driven to find those responsible for residential burglaries and bring them to justice."

If you have been a victim of residential burglary, please know that we are here to support you and investigate on your behalf in order to bring offenders to justice.

You can report burglaries to us on the non-emergency 101 number or via our website. If a crime is in progress, always call 999.