A SALISBURY man who broke into the home of a women in her 60s and stole bank cards to buy scratchcards has been jailed for two years and seven months.

Thomas Harold Coker, 25, of Devizes Road, was sentenced at Bournemouth Crown Court on Friday, October 6 after admitting an offence of burglary and two charges of fraud.

On the afternoon of June 27 a burglary happened at a property off the A354 near Sixpenny Handley.

The victim, a woman aged in her 60s, was asleep at home and woke at around 3.40pm to discover a voicemail message stating there had been suspicious activity on her bank card.

She discovered her bag, which contained her bank cards, had been stolen from the property.

At 3.52pm the victim received a further call reporting suspicious activity on her credit card and contacted police.

Officers attended and discovered the cards had been used in Coombe Bissett Stores near Salisbury. A total of five transactions, totalling £115.60, had been carried out to purchase scratchcards and food.

The store’s CCTV footage was obtained by police and officers saw a man and woman arrive in a silver Peugeot 307 before carrying out the transactions.

Bank records also showed a further transaction at the One Stop Store in Harnham, with five scratchcards purchased for £25 and the card was declined at In-Excess Store in Harnham.

CCTV showed the same man and woman attending the stores.

Officers in Salisbury stopped the vehicle that had been identified as being involved at 6.40pm on Wednesday, June 28.

Coker was arrested on suspicion of burglary, charged and pleaded guilty at Bournemouth Crown Court on September 13.

Cayley Tuxworth, 25, of Devizes Road in Salisbury, was charged with two counts of fraud in relation to the use of the bank cards and was given a six-month conditional discharge at Poole Magistrates’ Court on Friday after admitting the offences.

PC Chris Raspini, of Dorset Police, said: “Dwelling burglaries can be very distressing for victims and we are committed to bringing offenders such as Coker to justice.

“I would also like to remind residents that they can take a number of simple crime prevention measures, such as keeping windows secure and doors locked even when you are at home, to help protect your home from burglars.”