Devon criminal's shock four-word remark as he's jailed

Jason McCreedy didn't hold back

A burglar who travelled hundreds of miles to steal jewellery worth tens of thousands of pounds from a shop in Sidmouth said he'd been an "absolute d***head". Career criminal Jason McCreedy broke into Rings of Gold in Old Fore Street and snatched valuables with a retail value of £78,000.

The 53-year-old has been jailed for two years and eight months at Exeter Crown Court. He was also convicted of a burglary at Louise Dress Agency where he stole designer handbags and caused damage costing more than £5,000.

Judge James Adkin said McCreedy had travelled to Devon with others from his native Cumbria to commit the crimes. He has previous convictions for raids in all corners of England and Wales, including Ipswich, Kettering and Haverford West.

"You can be properly described as a criminal who travels from place to place to commit crimes," said the judge.

McCreedy, representing himself, said: "I'm a complete idiot. I'm absolutely fuming [with myself]. I'm an absolute d***head, that's what I am."

Felicity Payne, prosecuting, said McCreedy raided the jewellery shop in January 2023. The owner shut the business the previous evening and when he returned in the morning found the shutters open to waist height, items all over the floor and hundreds of gold bracelets, chains, pendants, necklaces and diamond earrings missing.

A substance had been placed over a sensor to stop it triggering the alarm indicating a sophisticated burglary. CCTV showed a male coming in and out of the shop multiple times between 1:30am and 4:30am. A second, unidentified, male was also at the scene.

The items taken had a retail value of £78,000 and a wholesale value of £31,322.

The raid at Louise Dress Agency happened in October 2021. McCreedy's DNA was found on a crowbar used to force entry. The owner of the family-run business said in a statement the burglary had a devastating impact and she was "disgusted at the lack of respect" and selfish greed of the raider.

McCreedy, of North View, Aspatria, Cumbria, admitted two charges of burglary. He has 125 previous crimes to his name. They include a suspended sentence at the same court for a commercial burglary in 2016.

Judge Adkin said his latest crimes had many hallmarks of professional criminality.

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