Man jailed for burglary in West Ewell

A man has been jailed for 18 months after he was interrupted burgling a house in West Ewell.

It was lunchtime on Monday, 11 March. A retired husband and wife had just returned home from their morning shop and were unloading their bags from the car. As he went to unlock the garage, she went into the house…and saw a figure bent over at the foot of the stairs. An intruder was in their home.

Having been disturbed, the burglar fled from the back of the house onto the street, where the husband gave chase, shouting for help. Passers-by rushed to assist the couple, two joining the pursuit, and others helping the wife to gather items from their home that the burglar had dropped as he ran.

The burglar fought with the husband and a passerby on the driveway and in the street before he finally got away.

On Wednesday, 20 March, 42-year-old Dean Woodhouse was arrested, having been identified through CCTV and mobile phone footage captured at the scene by witnesses. He was also later linked to the victims’ home by DNA from a beer can left in the scene.

He was arrested wearing the same Fred Perry jacket that he was seen wearing in mobile phone footage and CCTV from the burglary.

Woodhouse, (21/10/1981) of Sutton, pleaded guilty to burglary and assault by beating. On Thursday, 13 June he was sentenced at Guildford Crown Court to 18 months’ imprisonment and ordered to pay a victim surcharge.

PC Brown, the investigating officer, said: “The success of this investigation would not have been possible without the bravery and intuition of the victims and passers-by who, without thought for their own safety, rushed to the homeowners’ aid and captured vital videos and images of the suspect that led to Woodhouse’s early identification and arrest.

“I personally would like to thank all those that assisted the victims that day, which has led to the successful conviction of Woodhouse.

“Burglary is such an invasive crime, and to find someone in your home when simply returning from doing some shopping must have been terrifying for the victims. I hope that they can feel that bit safer in the knowledge that Woodhouse is now behind bars. Surrey Police are committed to thoroughly investigating burglary and will continue to target offenders like Woodhouse and bring them to justice.”