Man burgling hours after prison release – Blackpool Gazette

The Blackpool Gazette has reported a SERIAL burglar who broke into a Blackpool home just hours after he was released from prison has been jailed for two years.

John Kilpatrick, who has 57 previous convictions, was released from prison in July this year after finishing an eight-month sentence for burglary.

But the very next day the 43-year-old was caught on CCTV stealing £3,000 worth of property from a house on Whitegate Drive.

In another raid he was only stopped after being challenged by the plucky 86-year-old resident.

Outraged justice campaigners today said the case strengthens calls for tougher community sentences rather than ‘wasteful’ short-term prison sentences.

Rona Hooper, director of Make Justice Work, which commissioned a report on short prison sentences backed by former Metropolitan Police chief Sir Ian Blair, said: “It’s a national disgrace so much public money is still being wasted on ineffective short prison sentences.