Man sentenced after pleading guilty to burglary offences in Watford

A man has received a custodial sentence after pleading guilty to burglary offences in Watford.

George Mitchell, aged 26, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to two counts of burglary and one count of vehicle interference at Hatfield Remand Court on Friday (18 August).

The charges relate to offences in July and August this year.

In the early hours of Monday 31 July, Mitchell broke into Fratelli’s restaurant on The Parade in Watford High Street, where he stole alcohol, a debit card and £100 in cash.

Overnight between Monday 7 August and Tuesday 8 August, Mitchell again broke into Fratelli’s restaurant and stole another £100 in cash.

On the morning of Friday 10 August, Mitchell was captured on a doorbell camera trying the door handle of a car in Westfield Avenue, but he did not gain entry.

In the early hours of Sunday 13 August, Mitchell broke into Majestic Gentlemen barbers on Queens Road, where he stole a laptop and cash.

After pleading guilty to all three counts, Mitchell was handed an eight-month custodial sentence. In addition, he was ordered to pay £760 in victim compensation.

Detective Inspector Chris Parperi, who leads the Watford Local Crime Unit, said: “Mitchell shamelessly targeted independent businesses run by members of our community, leaving them to pay for repairs to their premises, and replace items that he had stolen.

“This is a message for those who steal from hard-working business owners in Watford: we will investigate, and we will strive to provide justice to victims of crime.”

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