Man was watching the football when his wallet and PlayStation were stolen from his student room

A Nottingham student had his wallet and games console stolen from his room by a pair of burglars as he was watching a football game in the same building. The offenders, John Sisson and Brinsley Forrester, were known to the police and were identified through CCTV footage from inside and outside the victim's accommodation on Howard Street in the city centre on April 28.

The student realised the theft had taken place when he received notifications from his bank of two payments of more than £120 at a nearby convenience store. He then realised a games console and other items were also missing from his room.

Besides CCTV at the accommodation, the burglars were also caught on camera as they tried to use the victim's card to buy alcohol at the nearby shop. Sisson, 48 and formerly of Carlton Street, Nottingham, repeatedly denied any involvement but was convicted in October by a jury at Nottingham Crown Court of burglary and fraud by false representation.

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Forrester, 33 and of no fixed address, had committed another opportunistic burglary at a bar and restaurant in George Street on April 26 and was arrested after robbing a man waiting for a bus in Nottingham city centre on May 2.

He later pleaded guilty to robbery, burglary, theft and fraud offences.

Appearing via video link at Nottingham Crown Court on Wednesday, November 20, Sisson was jailed for three years, while Forrester was jailed for 27 months. Detective Constable Tim Townsend, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: "Sisson and Forrester are experienced and opportunist criminals who exploited an insecure side door to gain access to this student accommodation.

"As their victim sat watching football with his friends in a communal area, they gained access to his room and stole items from within. Whilst the victim in this case was in no way to blame for what happened, this incident should serve as a timely reminder to everyone living in communal accommodation to make sure that doors are left secure.

"Because unfortunately there are people like Sisson and Forrester around who will see an open door or window as an invitation to come in and take what they want."