Preston man who robbed houses in Bolton and Tameside jailed after months on the run

Liam Farnworth, 22, has been jailed for two years and four months after pleading guilty to two counts of burglary at Bolton Crown Court today (January 21).

His sentence follows two burglaries committed in Hyde and Bolton in January and August 2020.

DC Natalie Fairhurst, of GMP's Tameside district, said: "Farnworth believed he was above the law and could not only burgle multiple houses, but evade police detection.

"Thankfully he now has time to think about his actions from behind bars."

"GMP does not tolerate this sort of behaviour and I hope today's result serves as a reassurance to the community that we are committed to tackling this sort of criminal activity in their area."

Farnworth's first victim had left her property in Mottram Road, Hyde, on January 17, 2020.

When she returned home on January 20, 2020, she discovered her property had been burgled and electrical goods, jewellery, and "irreplaceable items" had been stolen.

Police said the victim later discovered a blood stain on a duvet cover and the DNA was found to match that of Farnworth.

On August 13, 2020, Farnworth's second victim was upstairs in his property in Lever Park Avenue, Bolton, when he heard a noise from downstairs.

After going downstairs to investigate, the victim was confronted by two men - including Farnworth - wearing balaclavas and searching through boxes of cutlery in his dining room.

Both men were chased out of the property by the owner, who later discovered the offenders had smashed their way into his home via the conservatory door.

Blood samples obtained from the broken door matched that of Farnworth's.

Greater Manchester Police said a warrant was put out for his arrest following the first offence, but he wasn't arrested until nine months later when Lancashire Police came across him on Skeffington Road, Preston, in October 2020.

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