Kenneth Musgrave and William Warwick Jailed for Burglary
Two men from Sunderland, Kenneth Musgrave and William Warwick, have been jailed after carrying out a string of burglaries across the city in March. Musgrave, 46, and Warwick, 27, were sentenced to two years and four months in prison at Newcastle Crown Court for their involvement in the crimes.
The incident occurred on March 4, when Warwick was filmed by doorbell cameras entering a garden and testing door handles at two homes. Later that night, Musgrave and Warwick broke into a house on Reading Road, rummaging through drawers and rooms before stealing several rucksacks containing bank cards and vital documents.
Around 40 minutes after the break-in, a woman in the house woke up to the sound of her bedroom door opening. Upon seeing Musgrave in her doorway, she bravely shouted at him to leave. Despite being terrified, she showed great presence of mind and courage, forcing Musgrave to flee the scene. The woman later found her living room in disarray and noticed a drink from the fridge had been partially consumed.
Musgrave and Warwick, who have numerous prior convictions, were arrested shortly afterward at a nearby BP garage. Both men admitted to the crimes, with Musgrave, a father of three, and Warwick confessing that they had been intoxicated from alcohol and drugs during the break-ins.
The victim of the burglary shared in court how the traumatic experience left her feeling “terrified and physically sick,” stating that her sense of security in her own home had been shattered. The burglary victim emphasized the terrifying uncertainty of what could have happened to her or her children.
Musgrave has 32 previous convictions for 144 offences, while Warwick has 73 convictions for 158 crimes. Judge Gavin Doig highlighted the severity of the crimes and praised the woman’s bravery, stating that she had shown “enormous presence of mind and courage” in confronting Musgrave.
The other victims of the burglaries also expressed their distress, with one family now planning to move due to the impact of the crimes.