Britain's 'oldest' burglar is jailed again

A Carlisle grandfather who in his life of crime has been sentenced to almost 41 years in jail was back behind bars for new offences. Richard Blaylock, who will celebrate his 78th birthday on Christmas Day, was given a two year four month sentence for a two opportunistic night-time burglaries he did at properties near Carlisle.

His defence solicitor Malcolm Dodds said Blaylock, who began offending as a teenager during World War Two in 1943, was in failing health which made it likely that he would die in jail. Blaylock - said to be Britain's oldest burglar - had earlier admitted burgling a house and an outbuilding at Great Orton, near Carlisle, on May 21.

The court heard how a police officer had spotted the pensioner leaving a pub, getting on to a bike, and cycling off away from Carlisle. Before riding off, he put on a pair of gloves and picked up a holdall, prosecutor Gerard Rogerson told the court.



Blaylock was stopped at 2.25am the following day and searched. By this time, said Mr Rogerson, the pensioner had with him a socket tool set which he’d taken from an outbuilding and a burgundy coloured sock, stuffed with items he’d taken from a house, including some cufflinks, a gold watch, and loose change.

Blaylock was also carrying various tools, including a pair of pliers and a screwdriver. At first, the pensioner told police he had been out to Great Orton to hunt for rabbits and foxes, but he later admitted his crimes and showed police the properties he raided.

Mr Dodds, mitigating for Blaylock, told the judge: “It’s a quite extraordinary case. It’s not often that your Honour will have a 77-year-old man in front of you in connection with allegations of house burglary.”