Burglar Busted! Tool Thief Locked Up for Over Three Years in Tunbridge Wells
A cheeky thief who raided tools from an empty house in Tunbridge Wells has been slammed with a hefty jail sentence. On 8 April 2018, Darryl Everett broke into a Chestnut Avenue property mid-renovation and swiped a power drill, an electric fan, and other gear left by workmen.
Caught in the Act and on the Run
Everett didn’t know police were already on to him. Officers had been tipped off by reports of loud noises from the vacant building. A witness even spotted Everett loading the stolen goods into the boot of his Vauxhall Vectra before driving off.
But the getaway was short-lived. Cops found and stopped his car just hours later. Everett was arrested, and all the stolen items were recovered.
Denial Falls Flat as Guilty Plea Lands Jail Time
At first, Everett claimed he’d found the electric fan in a skip and denied wrongdoing. However, the 37-year-old, of Manor Road, Southborough, later admitted guilt at Maidstone Crown Court for burglary, theft, and driving without insurance.
He’d also broken a suspended sentence from a previous crime. On 26 June, Everett was sentenced to three years and five months behind bars.
Police Warn: Tool Thieves Disrupt Work and Livelihoods
“Criminals like Everett who target construction sites cause huge inconvenience to contractors,” said Detective Constable Robert Fursey. “It’s not just the loss of tools, but lost work time and opportunity to earn. Thankfully, we tracked him down, recovered the goods, and justice has been served.”
