Man jailed following burglary of elderly man’s home

A man has been jailed after he admitted burgling an elderly man’s home in Market Drayton.

James Delaney, aged 43, of Wolverhampton, was sentenced to nine years behind bars after he admitted aggravated burglary dwelling at Stafford Crown Court on Thursday (30 March).

The court heard how Delaney forced his way inside the home of the victim in Loggerheards last February (2022).

He threatened the victim with a bread knife and searched the home for valuables. He found a steel box containing around £400 in fishing equipment and £450 in cash.

Delaney made off from the address with the items, leaving the victim shaken but unhurt at the scene.

Once the incident was reported to us, we sent local officers to speak to the victim and investigate the scene. Delaney was arrested in March (2022) after his DNA was found on the inside of one of the windows.

He was questioned in custody and later admitted to the offences in court.

Speaking following the sentencing, Detective Sergeant Andy Durber said: “Delaney has inflicted a great deal of trauma on the victim who was left with lasting emotional distress.

“I’m happy that he’s now serving punishment behind bars and we’ve been able to secure justice for the victim in this case.”