Southend: Justice secured for robbery and burglary victims

A violent offender who robbed a man at a cashpoint and burgled a woman’s bedroom while she slept has been jailed following investigations led by Southend CID.

Harry Fryett, 27, approached a stranger at a cash machine in Southend High Street in the early hours of 10 December 2022.

Approaching his victim from behind, Fryett used a baton to strike the man over the head.

He demanded cash, taking £50 from the victim before making off on a bicycle towards Southchurch Road.

We received calls from witnesses, who provided us with initial details. Our officers arrived at the scene, taking an initial account from the victim and taking him on to hospital.

He had suffered a cut to his head which required staples.

Separately to this, CCTV operators with partners Southend Council alerted our officers to Fryett’s presence in Southchurch Road.

We attended and Fryett attempted to flee from our officers, who gave chase and apprehended him within 25 minutes of the offence taking place.

The baton was found in his pocket and the cash was recovered.

We sent the baton off for forensic testing, which uncovered the victim’s DNA on the tip.

Fryett, of Belle Vue Place, Southend, was later charged with robbery.

Burglary investigation

Separate to this investigation and while still on conditional court bail, Fryett entered a woman’s flat in Westcliff on 26 May 2023.

The woman, a nurse, had recently finished a night shift and was asleep in bed.

She awoke to find Fryett in her bedroom, rifling through a set of drawers.

When she demanded to know who he was, Fryett told her he was “with the police” and had entered her home to warn her about her property being insecure.

There was a scuffle, and the woman managed to grab a neckless the intruder was wearing as he fled the address.

We were alerted to this incident and launched an investigation, analysing CCTV footage, identifying and arresting Fryett on 8 June 2023.

He took part in an identification procedure and the victim positively identified Fryett as the person who had entered her home.

The neckless the victim grabbed from Fryett was sent off for forensic analysis and returned a positive match for his DNA.

He was charged with burglary.

At Basildon Crown Court on 26 February this year, he admitted to the robbery and burglary charges.

Appearing at the same court for sentence on Friday 23 August, he was jailed for a total of four years and ten months.

In impact statements, Fryett’s victims recalled the lasting effects of his crimes.

'I kept reliving the incident'

The robbery victim said:

“As a result of this incident I was initially in complete shock, I couldn’t believe someone had assaulted me like this for all of £50.
“In the days after the incident I was struggling to sleep, reliving the incident in my head.
“I kept thinking I should have done something different and playing out different scenarios about how I wouldn’t have ended up in Southend that evening.
“When I go out now, I am very wary of public spaces and seeing people about.”

'A lasting impact'

The burglary victim said:

"Straight after the offence I could not sleep.
“I dream about the incident, especially due to what happened – waking up to find him in my bedroom. This invasion of my personal space and privacy has had a lasting effect on me.
“I still experience sleeplessness and have the occasional nightmare about it.
“At first, I could not even leave the house, and it was only with the help of Victim Support that I have gained the confidence to leave the house.”

Detective Constable Michelle Rawson, of Southend CID, said:

“Fryett is a prolific offender who paid little attention to court orders and bail conditions, showing a determination to keep committing serious crimes which terrified his victims.
“He flippantly thought he could get away with committing these brazen offences, but we were able to gather solid evidence against him and ensure he was left with little choice but to plead guilty.
“He showed little to no regard to the harm his offending caused.
“Thanks to the support of both victims in these cases, who have endured lengthy waits for the court cases to conclude, he will spend a considerable term behind bars.
“Our commitment to tackling serious offending, such as robbery and burglary, in the Southend area is consistent and unconditional.
“These offences left the victims with lasting physical and psychological trauma – they are serving lengthy sentences in their own ways for offending that simply should not have fallen victim to.
“We continue to work with partners, and within our own force across community, local policing teams and CID, to investigate and respond swiftly to such offences when they do occur.”

For advice on how to stay safe and protect your home, yourself, your business and your vehicles from crime, please visit our crime prevention pages.

You can also find out more general information about crime, the law and staying safe on our advice and information pages.

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