Sean Bent imprisoned for burglary

Sean Bent, 41 of Coalpool Lane in Walsall, has been sentenced to 30 months in prison for burglary.

On 17 September 2023, a resident who lived near Lichfield Road in Wishaw was approached by a man who asked him whether the house next door was for sale.

When the resident told them that it was not for sale, he was accused of lying, and then asked for his phone number in case the property did become available for renting again.

The resident gave him a false number. The man, who said his name was Sean, then left in a van.

A few days later on the 23 September, the resident spotted the van again, with the occupants looking over his property.

Later, the van was parked outside the property next door. Sean told the resident that he was moving in and was in the process of clearing the house out.

Sean also mentioned that he had attempted to call the number provided, and knew it was false.

The resident left the area and called the police to make a report.

That evening, he made a second call after cameras on his property were activated and captured two male intruders with torches searching the property, disabling a camera inside the address.

One of the men was positively identified as Sean Bent.

When the resident returned to the property with the police, they found that the property had been broken into and the doors screwed shut from the inside.

An untidy search had taken place, with a number of items including a TV, cash, jewellery, keys, and electrical items being taken.

On 4 October, Bent’s van was stopped and seized by officers as he was disqualified from driving and had no insurance on the vehicle.

When Bent attended Nuneaton police station on the 9 October to reclaim the van, he was arrested on suspicion of burglary – on that day, he was wearing the same jacket as he had been wearing in the CCTV footage from the house.

Sean Bent was sentenced after pleading guilty to burglary at Warwick Crown Court on 16 May 2024.

He has received 30 months in prison and is required to pay a victims’ surcharge of £228. Bent is also subject to a restraining order against contacting the victim or approaching the property.

DI Wolsey of the Serious Organised and Acquisitive Crime Team said “It was fairly clear that Bent had been somewhat brazenly scoping out the property during the day before he carried out the burglary.

“He made no attempt to hide his identity, giving his own name when asked, and clearly had no expectation that any of this would catch up with him.

“Luckily he smiled for the victim’s camera, and we’ve got him put away for two and a half years.”