Burglar Busted: Jail for HMP Fugitive Who Raided Shared House
Alan Steel kicked off a dawn raid on a shared house in Derby Road, Lenton, on 4 June 2022. The 42-year-old swiped electrical goods and jewellery from three different bedrooms.
He fled when an occupant disturbed him but was caught on CCTV just two hours later trying to flog the stolen loot in a shop.
Fugitive Absconds from Prison Before Burglary Spree
Steel had escaped from HMP Sudbury in Derbyshire just days earlier, on 31 May 2022. The ex-prisoner was originally jailed back in 2007 for causing the death of a 32-year-old woman by dangerous driving in Sunderland.
Police Hunt Ends in Arrest and Recovery of Stolen Goods
Nottinghamshire Police launched a swift investigation, piecing together CCTV footage and other clues. They tracked Steel down and arrested him on 5 June 2022, recovering many of the pilfered items at a Carlton address.
Steel Sentenced to Two Years in Jail
Facing justice at Nottingham Crown Court on 20 April 2023, Steel pleaded guilty to escaping lawful custody and was found guilty of three burglary charges. He received a two-year prison sentence.
Detective Sergeant Simon Carter said: “I welcome the fact Steel is now back behind bars where he belongs and I’m pleased we were able to reunite the victims with items he stole from them.
“I’d like to commend PC Cora Marks who worked very hard on this case and whose extensive inquiries helped secure this conviction.
“The force treats all reports of burglary seriously and continues to work tirelessly all year round to prevent incidents from happening in the first place.
“Members of the public can have faith that reports will be investigated, and we will relentlessly pursue individuals believed to be responsible for these sort of upsetting crimes.”
