Essex men who burgled homes in Ardleigh and Harwich are jailed

Tommy Searl, 25, and Thomas Sterry, 21, broke into homes in Dedham, Harwich, and Ardleigh while Harry Davis, 20, helped the pair steal a Honda Civic, Ford Fiesta and Volkswagen Golf from the addresses.

The burglaries, which took place in June and July of 2022, were described as “frightening and distressing” by one victim of the thefts.

Convicted – Thomas Sterry is incarcerated at HMP Isis (Image: Essex Police) The three appeared before Chelmsford Crown Court on Wednesday where they were sentenced after admitting a string of offences earlier this month.

The court heard Searl broke into a beach hut in Wrabness where he stayed with co-defendant Harry Davis and friend Faith Moxam in June 2022.

It is not known how long the three stayed in the beach hut, but Searl stole two Calor gas cannisters before committing further offences the next month.

Nicola May, prosecuting, said Searl was "puppysitting" for a friend in Harwich when he took a spare key to her Volkswagen Polo.

When she returned, she noticed the key had gone missing but Searl said he didn’t know where it was when she challenged him.

That car was never recovered by the police.

Court – the three defendants appeared before Judge Mary Loram at Chelmsford Crown Court on Wednesday (Image: Daniel Rees, Newsquest) The three then worked together to steal a Ford Fiesta from Stephen Writtle after breaking into his home in St Michael’s Road, Harwich, in the middle of the night to steal car keys and airpods.

When the police arrested the men, Davis had the keys to the car and Searl's DNA was found inside the vehicle.

The three were also involved in burgling an address in Dedham so they could steal a Honda Civic belonging to Aran Pierce and a Volkswagen Golf worth £25,000 belonging to Chloe Whyman, who described the crimes as “frightening and distressing”.

Jail – Tommy Searl is current imprisoned at HMP Brixton (Image: Essex Police) Sterry acted, now of HMP Isis, alone when he burgled a cottage in Hadleigh Road, Ardleigh, while the victim Elizabeth Harrington was at home with her 14-year-old son.

He admitted three counts of burglary and three counts of theft of a motor vehicle, and was jailed for 15 months.

Searl, of HMP Brixton, admitted three counts of burglary and four counts of theft, and was jailed for two years.

Davis, of Mayflower Avenue, Harwich, admitted three counts of burglary and three counts of theft of a motor vehicle, and was sentenced to unpaid work because he played a lesser role in the offending.