Burglar who targeted Clayton-le-Moors church as priest who had helped him was performing mass jailed
A burglar has been jailed after targeting a church in Clayton-le-Moors while the priest was performing mass has been jailed
Paul Dwyer used a brick to smash the window of St Mary’s RC Church’s presbytery on Devonshire Drive on July 6.
The 62-year-old then searched through the rooms before stealing a guitar and case as well as a passport.
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He did this while the priest was performing mass.
Dwyer was recognised on CCTV footage by the priest as being someone he had known for many years through working on outreach programmes.
The stolen guitar case was found at Dwyer’s home when he was arrested two days later.
Dwyer, of Devonshire Road, Clayton-le-Moors, pleaded guilty to burglary of a dwelling house.
He was jailed for two years and four months after appearing at Burnley Crown Court on Wednesday.
Lancashire Police said Dwyer was a ‘three strike’ burglar, with three burglary convictions since 1999.