New Forest man jailed for Fordingbridge burglary

New Forest man, Sean Jonathan Cooper, has today (8 February) been sentenced to more than two years for a burglary in Fordingbridge.

The 28-year-old, of Narrowleaf Drive in Ringwood, pleaded guilty to the offence at Southampton Crown Court on 6 January. A further four burglaries, all committed by Cooper in September 2022, were taken into consideration by the Judge when passing sentence.

The court heard how on 6 November 2022, between 3am and 1pm, Cooper gained entry to an address on Bowerwood Road in Fordingbridge by breaking a downstairs bathroom window.

Cooper was identified after a blood sample was found in the bathroom, and two fingerprints were found on broken glass from the window.

He was arrested on 28 November 2022 and remanded into custody. He appeared at Southampton Magistrates Court on 30 November where he was further remanded until his sentencing.

Today, he was jailed for a total of 29 months in prison.

Police Staff Investigator Stephen Hortin of Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary’s dedicated burglary unit, Operation Hawk, lead the investigation. He said: “We take burglaries very seriously, and we will use all the tools at our disposal, including forensics, to bring offenders to justice.

“I hope this result offers closure to both victims, and serves as a warning to others who think about committing such crimes.

If you have been the victim of a dwelling burglary, or have any information on burglary and stolen goods, please contact us on 101 or via our website.

For more information on how to protect your home from burglary, visit our crime prevention page: https://www.hampshire.police.uk/cp/crime-prevention/protect-home-crime/