Bailey Winkle, an 18-year-old from Willonholt, Ravensthorpe, has been sentenced to four years in a Young Offender Institution after admitting to a staggering 40 offences. His criminal activities included 17 vehicle thefts, 13 burglaries, and several other theft-related charges.
Winkle’s spree involved breaking into homes to steal keys and then making off with the victims’ cars. On some occasions, he even boasted about his crimes through text messages, which were later recovered by detectives from his mobile phone.
He was first arrested by the Acquisitive Crime Team (ACT) on November 6 and charged with 21 offences, but after being granted bail, he continued to commit further crimes. Winkle was arrested again on December 30 in Bardney, Lincolnshire.
Appearing at Cambridge Crown Court on May 23, Winkle faced a range of charges, including attempted fraud with stolen bank cards, theft of number plates, criminal damage, and possession of cannabis, among others. Two charges of attempted fraud and multiple theft charges will lie on file as part of the court proceedings.
Detective Sergeant Rich Ellison from the ACT commented on Winkle’s prolific offending, stating, “Burglaries are one of the most intrusive crimes, and Winkle clearly showed no regard for the impact his actions would have on his victims.”