Burglar finds himself behind bars

A prolific burglar has found himself behind bars after being challenged by a retired police officer following a burglary in Sunbury-Upon-Thames earlier this year.

Mario Chambers, 33, of no fixed address, appeared at Guildford Magistrates Court on Monday, 31 July after pleading guilty to residential burglary, shoplifting, ABH and assault (battery). He was sentenced to 48 weeks imprisonment.

On Friday, 12 May, a retired police officer was alerted by one of his neighbours that there had been a burglary at one of the houses in their road. When confronted by the retired officer, Chambers pushed him to the ground causing an injury to the former officer’s wrist and ran off.

Surrey officers then found Chambers riding a bike along Chertsey Road. Chambers assaulted one of the officers while being searched for stolen items and was arrested.

At court Chambers received the following:

• Residential burglary – 36 weeks imprisonment
• ABH – 12 weeks imprisonment to run consecutively
• Assault (battery) – one week imprisonment to run concurrently

Officer in charge of the case, PC Scott Legge, from the Neighbourhood Police Investigation Team, said: “It is reassuring to the victims involved and the wider community to see this clearly violent individual taken off the streets. This sort of behaviour will not be tolerated, and we will continue to work tirelessly to protect our communities.”