A prolific criminal used a mobility scooter to burgle a house during a crime spree in Rotherham.
Miroslav Ilko, 25, was spotted on the blue vehicle on the victim’s CCTV before being seen to leave the property with stolen items. Sheffield Crown Court heard on Monday, January 6 his spree began in May last year, and finally came to an end in October.
He was first linked to a burglary in St Ann’s Road where he left a vital piece of evidence. Prosecutor Thomas Doyle said blood splattered on a window which as used to gain entry was forensically linked to Ilko after property owners reported items including a mountain bike and TV had been stolen.
The TV was found outside the property as it had already been damaged and the bike was returned by a man who said he had bought it from someone. He gave an address of where he could be found.
Mr Doyle said: “He was arrested on 19th June, 2024 and gave a ‘no comment’ interview and was released on police bail.”
Ilko, of Milton Road, was quickly back to the same tricks on August 29, 2024 when he burgled a home in Hardwick Road. The owner had left the country and had installed CCTV, and called his friend when he noticed the camera was off. Mr Doyle said: “He asked him to go fix it and he did and found the property had been burgled.
Sheffield Crown Court
(Image: Katie Pugh)
“He found a smashed window and the CCTV camera unplugged. He made enquiries with neighbours and some came forward with CCTV showing a man coming into the street on a blue mobility scooter and going into the address. More CCTV showed a person leaving the address.”
The victim was said to have shared the images and was given an address for the person on it, eventually leading him to Ilko’s home, where his mother and partner apologised on his behalf and returned some of the items.”
The court heard that then, on September 8, Ilko burgled a home in Grosvenor Road. The property had been targeted a number of times and Mr Doyle said Milko’s basis was he was only attributable to a stolen selection of blankets. He was further arrested and once again released on police bail.
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His final offence came on October 5 at a house of multiple occupancy in Milton Road. Mr Doyle said: “That day at around 1pm a man left the address to go to the shop and closed the window but doesn’t lock it. He does close the door. At around 3pm he returned to find the window and door open and found his mobile phone had been stolen.
“Fingerprints left on the inside of the window were linked to the defendant, leading to his arrested on 11th October. He was tested for drugs and tested positive for cannabis and opiates. He is a prolific, repeat offender.”
Mitigating, Emma Coverley said a pre-sentence report had been carried out. She said he had been a carer for his mother, who has since passed away, and was introduced to class A drugs by a friend.
She said: “He has been in custody for a little under four months and has used that time productively in order to address his underlying addiction to class A drugs, which was the motivation behind the commission of all four offences…
“It is right to say he wasn’t somebody who had used class A drugs previously. He was introduced by a friend. Maybe there was a degree of escapism from the situation he was in – caring for somebody who was very unwell and the responsibility that put him in as a young man.”
As Ms Coverley spoke to the court, Ilko could be seen over the video link to HMP Doncaster with his hands clasped together. He could also be heard reciting The Lord’s Prayer.
Her Honour Judge Wright made him the subject of a two-year suspended sentence during which he will have to carry out a rehabilitation activity requirement and a drug rehabilitation requirement. She said: “Last year you went on a spree of committing house burglaries in Rotherham between May and October.
“It is the psychological harm caused to the victims of the burglaries which you don’t appreciate.”
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