Jailed burglar found hiding out in Lancaster motel

A man who committed a series of burglaries in Cockerham and Pilling has been jailed.
Mark Ormerod.Mark Ormerod.
Mark Ormerod.

Mark Ormerod, 44, of Esplanade Mews, Knott End appeared at Preston Crown Court on Monday, March 14 and was sentenced to 32 months imprisonment after he previously pleaded guilty to three counts of burglary.

Officers launched an investigation in February 2015 after they received reports of a burglary at Horrocks Farm in St Michaels.

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The burglars broke into the outbuildings of the farm before stealing a black Mercedes.

This was one of a number of burglaries that had occurred in the Over Wyre area over a two week period, including burglaries at Wallings Farm in Cockerham and St John the Baptist’s Church in Pilling, where over £2500 worth of damage was caused after the vestry door frame and masonry were smashed.

Enquiries led to Ormerod’s arrest after he was found hiding out in a Lancaster motel in May 2015.

His Mercedes was seized and officers found tools and equipment inside the car which he had used to gain entry during the burglaries.

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Following a search of his home address, further property including a Samsung tablet device and torches from two of the burglaries was also recovered.

He was later charged with all three burglaries, as well as a fourth at Garden Inspirations in Cockerham which he pleaded not guilty to.

He was also ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £120 and his Mercedes and tools were all forfeited by the court.

DS Simon Balderstone of the Lancaster Impact team who led the investigation said: “This is a great result for the people of Over Wyre. Mark Ormerod moved to this quiet rural area from Burnley and subjected the tight knit community to a number of crimes. We are dedicated to fighting rural crime and we would urge anyone with any information that could assist us in the future to come forward and report any suspicious activity to us.”

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