A MAN who tried to burgle a church after an Easter Sunday service has been jailed.

Dean Carter, 53 and of Richmond Park Road, Bournemouth, was sentenced at Bournemouth Crown Court after admitting two attempted burglaries and one burglary.

The defendant had entered Corpus Christi Church in Boscombe after a congregation had left a service on Sunday, April 21.

CCTV footage reviewed the following morning showed a man placing a bag over a surveillance camera and trying locked doors. It was also discovered that gates and a fire door had been pulled open. Following a public appeal, Carter was identified as the man in the CCTV footage.

Less than two weeks later, on Thursday, May 2, a woman aged in her 30s heard a scraping noise coming from the utility room of her home in Richmond Wood Road at around 7pm.

She went to inspect the noise and saw a man make off from her home.

The woman subsequently discovered a jar of coins, valued at around £15 to £20, had been taken from the utility room.

Carter was identified as the burglar from a neighbour’s CCTV footage, in which Carter was also seen to attempt to break into their garage.

Appearing at Bournemouth Crown Court for sentencing, Carter was jailed for two years after admitting three burglary offences.

Police Constable Liam Moss, of Dorset Police’s Priority Crime Team, is urging residents to ensure they secure their homes against burglars like Carter.

“Dean Carter is clearly an opportunistic burglar who has no respect for other people’s property,” he said.

“Thanks to the CCTV systems in place at the premises he targeted, we were able to identify him as the offender and bring him to justice for these matters.

“I would also like to take this opportunity to urge residents to make sure they keep their doors and windows secure wherever possible to help protect themselves from burglars such as Carter.”

For crime prevention advice visit www.dorset.police.uk/help-advice-crime-prevention/