Great Bardfield: Burglar sentenced following quick arrest by local officers

Officers alerted to reports of a burglary at a remote location in Braintree were at the scene of the incident within 20 minutes and then arrested the fleeing suspect within the hour.

On Saturday 22 June last year, a woman called 999 just before 8.30pm and told our call handler she had heard a loud noise and seen a man breaking into a house in Great Bardfield. She also said the man was holding a knife.

Officers, guided by colleagues in the National Police Air Service (NPAS) helicopter, searched the area and Christopher Searle was located travelling in a van in Coggeshall Road, Braintree.

He was promptly arrested and taken into custody. The 32-year-old told officers that he wasn’t a burglar and said that he was “being chased” and that “someone was trying to kill him”.

Searle admitted being at the location and said he had taken hallucinogenic drugs and believed people were chasing him and added he was trying to get some car keys so he could escape.

Following a full investigation, he was charged with burglary dwelling and possession of a bladed article in a public place. He pleaded guilty to both offences when he appeared at Chelmsford Crown Court on Tuesday 22 October last year.

At the same court on Thursday 30 January 2025, Searle of Corbets Tey Road, Upminster, was given a 10-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, for burglary and a four-month sentence for possession of the bladed article, to run concurrently.

He was also ordered to complete 25 rehabilitation activity requirement days, carry out 200 hours of unpaid work and ordered to pay £3,500 in compensation.

Detective Sergeant Dan Smith said:

"We know the devastating impact a crime like burglary can have on victims.
"Thankfully the family in this case, were not at home.
"But this has still had a profound impact on them and how safe they now feel in their own home.
"Burglary is a priority for us at Essex Police and we are committed to finding those who think they can commit these types of offences and bring them before the courts.
"Alongside this vital detection work, we work closely with partners and in our communities to prevent burglaries from happening with up-to-date information and advice."

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