A teenage burglar who targeted homes across Peterborough and Lincolnshire has been jailed for four years.

Bailey Winkle went on a three-month crime spree, carrying out burglaries and stealing cars just after his eighteenth birthday in October last year.

He would break into his victim’s homes before stealing keys and making off with their cars, on some occasions boasting about the thefts over text messages which were later recovered from his mobile phone by detectives.

The 18-year-old was arrested by detectives from the Acquisitive Crime Team (ACT) on 6 November, and later charged with 21 offences and remanded to appear in court the following day.

However, he was granted bail by the courts and went on to commit further offences before being arrested again on 30 December in Bardney, Lincolnshire.

Winkle, of Willonholt, Ravensthorpe, appeared at Cambridge Crown Court on Thursday (23 May) where he was sentenced to four years in a Young Offender Institution after previously admitting 40 offences including 17 thefts of vehicles, 13 burglaries, three thefts from vehicles – namely number plates, three attempted burglaries, two counts of making off without payment – namely fuel, one attempted theft of a vehicle and one count of dangerous driving.

He denied two charges of attempted fraud – namely using stolen bank cards, five charges of theft from a motor vehicle – namely theft of number plates, one charge of criminal damage and three charges of possession of cannabis, all of which will lie on file.

Detective Sergeant Rich Ellison, from the Acquisitive Crime Team (ACT), said: “Winkle was absolutely prolific in his offending and continued to commit crime while on court bail.

“Burglaries are one of the most intrusive crimes and Winkle clearly showed no regard for the impact his actions would have on his victims.”

Advice about how to best protect your home and vehicles can be found on the force’s dedicated crime prevention webpages.

Winkle's individual charges

  • Burglary including theft of car keys, a wallet and cigarettes from Odecroft, Westwood, Peterborough, on October 11

  • Theft of a Volkswagen Polo from Odecroft, Westwood, Peterborough, on October 11

  • Burglary including theft of car keys from Potesgrave Way, Heckington, Sleaford, on October 12

  • Theft of a Jaguar XF from Potesgrave Way, Heckington, Sleaford, on 12 October

  • Theft from a motor vehicle, namely number plates, in Swanspool, Ravensthorpe, Peterborough, on October 12

  • Making off without payment from Morrisons fuel station, Lincoln Road, Walton, Peterborough, on October 13

  • Making off without payment from Esso Garage in Newark Road, Lincoln, on October 14

  • Burglary including theft of car keys from Runswick Close, North Hykeham, Lincoln, on October 15

  • Theft of a Range Rover Evoke from Runswick Close, North Hykeham, Lincoln, on October 15

  • Theft of a Vauxhall Combo van from Runswick Close, North Hykeham, Lincoln, on October 15

  • Burglary including theft of car keys from Bozeat Way, Westwood, Peterborough, on October 6

  • Theft of a BMW 218i from Bozeat Way, Westwood, Peterborough, on October 16

  • Burglary including theft of car keys, a purse and cash from Raleigh Way, Westwood, Peterborough, on October 18

  • Theft of an Audi A3 from Raleigh Way, Westwood, Peterborough, on October 18

  • Burglary with intent to steal, in Francis Gardens, New England, Peterborough, on December 27

  • Theft of an Audi A5 from Francis Gardens, New England, Peterborough, on December 27

  • Burglary including theft of car keys from Willonholt, Ravensthorpe, Peterborough, on December 19

  • Theft of a Dacia Sandero from Willonholt, Ravensthorpe, Peterborough, on December 19

  • Burglary including theft of car keys and tobacco from Grange Lane, Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire, on December 19

  • Theft of a Ford Transit van from Grange Lane, Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire, on December 19

  • Theft of a Jaguar XE from Grange Lane, Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire, on December 19

  • Attempted burglary in Bluebell Avenue, Dogsthorpe, Peterborough, on December 20

  • Burglary including theft of car keys from Gorse Green, Welland, Peterborough, on December 20

  • Theft of a Ford Transit van and tools from Gorse Green, Welland, Peterborough, on December 20

  • Theft of a Vauxhall Corsa from Gorse Green, Welland, Peterborough, on December 220

  • Burglary including theft of car keys, mobile phone and tobacco from Gunthorpe Road, Gunthorpe, Peterborough, on December 22

  • Theft of an Audi A5 from Gunthorpe Road, Gunthorpe, Peterborough, on December 22

  • Theft of a BMW 530D from Gunthorpe Road, Gunthorpe, Peterborough, on December 22

  • Burglary including theft of car keys, purse and tobacco from Cotswold Close, Gunthorpe, Peterborough, on December 23

  • Theft of a Ford Fiesta from Cotswold Close, Gunthorpe, Peterborough, on December 23

  • Burglary including theft of car keys, purse and cash from Hawthorn Drive, Whittlesey, on December 24

  • Theft of an Audi Q3 from Hawthorn Drive, Whittlesey, on December 24

  • Theft from a motor vehicle, namely number plates, in Mendip Grove, Gunthorpe, Peterborough, on December 26

  • Theft from a motor vehicle, namely number plates, in Willonholt, Ravensthorpe, Peterborough, on December 27

  • Attempted burglary in Francis Gardens, Dogsthorpe, Peterborough, on December 27

  • Theft of a BMW 520D from Swale Avenue, Gunthorpe, Peterborough, on December 27

  • Attempted burglary in Richmond Avenue, Walton, Peterborough, on December 28

  • Burglary including theft of car keys from Hastings Road, Walton, Peterborough, on December 28

  • Attempted theft of a Volkswagen Golf from Hastings Road, Walton, Peterborough, on December 28

  • Dangerous driving in Station Road, Bardney, Lincolnshire, on December 29