Balaclava Burglar Gets Busted After Being Run Over in Peterlee
Robert Jones, masked in a balaclava and armed with a screwdriver, smashed the back door of a Peterlee home just before 8am on August 24. With an unknown accomplice, he demanded the keys to a BMW on the driveway and started ransacking the house. When the terrified victim said she didn’t have the keys, the burglars tore through the property.
Thieves Snatch Aftershave, Smash Phone, and Flee
The duo’s search upstairs disturbed the victim’s daughter. They swiped two bottles of aftershave before smashing the victim’s phone to prevent any calls for help. But their getaway hit a major snag.
Burglar’s Escape Ends in Crash and Arrest
The 26-year-old Jones was so intent on fleeing that he forgot the highway code — he was hit by a car minutes later, fracturing his leg. His accomplice, keen to save his own skin, ditched Jones. Police swooped and found the stolen aftershave, screwdriver, balaclava, and gloves nearby.
Jones, from Peterlee Cottages, Wheatley Hill, spent three days in hospital before being hauled into custody. He refused to say a word during questioning.
Sentenced and Behind Bars: “Bizarre Karmic Judgement”
The victim bravely identified Jones at an identity parade. He pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary at Durham Crown Court. The judge called the whole episode “a bizarre karmic judgement.”
The court heard Jones suffers leg pain from a metal rod and relies on a cellmate for daily help. He was sentenced to serve two-thirds of his jail term as a dangerous offender, followed by three years on an extended licence.
“This was a terrifying ordeal for the two women in their own home so we are glad to see Jones behind bars where he belongs,” said A/Inspector Darren Wild of Peterlee CID. “We will continue to hunt down Jones’ accomplice but hope this sentence gives the victims some closure.”
