Prolific Ringmer burglar jailed after targeting multiple addresses in Lewes

John Paul Healey, 39, unemployed, of The Forges, Ringmer, appeared at Lewes Crown Court on Tuesday (May 4) charged with two counts of burglary dwelling and theft, seven counts of attempted burglary dwelling with intent to steal, and one count of assault by beating of an emergency worker, confirmed police.

He pleaded guilty to all offences and was sentenced to three years and five months’ imprisonment.

Healey had been arrested in the early hours of Saturday, April 3, after officers responded to a report of a man acting suspiciously and looking through the windows of a house around 1.20am, according to police.

Officers viewed CCTV from the property and identified the man as John Paul Healey, a spokesman said.

Healey was found by officers shortly after 2am in Lancaster Street, Lewes.

He was wearing clothing that matched the CCTV footage and was carrying a rucksack that was found to contain laptops and a phone, police said.

He was also found in possession of vehicle keys.

Police conducted enquiries around the laptops and found they belonged to a resident in Friars Walk.

Upon attending the address, officers confirmed the house had been broken into and the items taken from inside, a spokesman said.

Enquiries around the vehicle keys also identified a second property in Friars Walk that had been burgled.

Seven further addresses in Friars Walk were also found with damage to their windows where entry had been attempted.

As Healey was arrested for burglary and attempted burglary, he kicked a police officer in the chest and so was further arrested for assault of an emergency worker, police confirmed.

Investigating officer DC Dan Payton said: “Being a victim of burglary or attempted burglary is extremely distressing, and it can have a serious impact on your life both financially and emotionally.

“John Paul Healey targeted multiple addresses in one night, and it is thanks to the vigilance of one homeowner who reported Healey’s suspicious behaviour that we were able to apprehend him before he committed any further crimes.

“We hope this outcome shows that burglars will be robustly dealt with by police as we work hard to protect our communities from harm.”