Westcliff: Burglar awoke victim in her home

A burglar who searched his victim’s bedroom while she slept has been convicted thanks to the work of our officers.

On Friday 26 May last year, the victim had been on a night shift and was in bed at her home in London Road, Westcliff.

She suddenly awoke at around 3.15pm to find 27-year-old Harry Fryett rifling through a set of drawers in her bedroom.

Fryett left the scene, but thanks to our enquiries with the victim, forensic evidence and CCTV footage, we were able to link him to the crime.

He was arrested on Thursday 6 June and soon charged with burglary, a charge he admitted at Basildon Crown Court on Monday 26 February.

Fryett, of Belle Vue Place, Southend, is due to be sentenced at the same court on Monday 15 April.

'This was a frightening incident for the victim'

Detective Constable Michelle Rawson, of Southend CID, said:

“The victim was left understandably frightened and shaken by this incident.
“Residential burglary is a deeply unpleasant offence as it leaves victims feeling unsafe in the very place they should feel safest.
“That is why attending such offences, engaging and supporting victims, and bringing the culprits to justice are absolute priorities for us.”

At Essex Police we put victims at the heart of everything we do. The Victims’ Code explains the rights that everyone can expect to receive as a victim of crime, and helps us define what we must do for all victims from their initial contact with our force until the conclusion of their case.

Find out more about the code and to understand the rights of a victim of crime, on our Support for victims and witnesses of crime page.

To report a crime, please use our digital 101 service. In an emergency call 999. 

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