Ferndale burglar who returned to his victim’s home to ask for a cigarette jailed
Anthony Russell, 35, from Dyffryn Street, Ferndale, was convicted of two burglaries and jailed for 32 months at Cardiff Crown Court on Thursday, 25th October 2018.
The bungling burglar was arrested on Monday, 22 October for a burglary in River Street, Ystrad, just hours after being identified by his victim who recognised him after watching a neighbour’s CCTV. He was charged with the burglary the following day after clothes recovered by police from his home address matched those he was wearing on camera.
At the time of this offence, Russell was awaiting trial for another burglary which he had been charged with earlier in the year.
On 6th January 2018, he was caught red-handed in a house in Fountain Street, Ferndale, when his victim – who knew him – returned home at night and came face to face with him in the living room. After he ran off, Russell had the audacity to knock on his victim’s door minutes later as though nothing happened, to ask for a cigarette and to check if everything was okay, before running off again when challenged. He was arrested four days later.
A search of Russell’s home address led officers to the loot he stole from that address, which included a phone, an X box, and a laptop. Russell also left his blood in one of the bedrooms which contained his DNA.
