CRIME SPREE | 

Burglar who robbed homes and vehicles in three day bender caught after tip-off from sister

Belfast man admits breaking into houses, theft and assaulting cops

Paul Higgins

Today at 15:27

This is the Belfast man caught following a burglary spree on the north coast after being shopped by his sister.

Paul Patterson pleaded guilty to the last two charges on the indictment at Antrim Crown Court on Friday.

The 32-year-old, from Runymede Parade in south Belfast but now with an address c/o Maghaberry Prison, admitted burglary and having criminal property, as well as receiving stolen goods, theft, assaulting a police officer and possessing class A and C drugs.

All the offences were committed over three days in October 2022.

Following the admissions, the prosecution asked for a further charge of burglary to be left on the books.

While the facts of the case were not opened on Friday, previous hearings were told residents in and around Portrush had contacted police to report that their vehicles had been broken into and various items had been taken, including cash, personal documents and dashcams.

Four people reported their homes had been burgled, including one where a £500 handbag was stolen.

In another incident, people staying at an Airbnb discovered a laptop and documents had been stolen.

Footage from doorbell cameras identified Patterson as the culprit, but the court also heard his sister had called the police to say “her brother had been breaking into cars and houses”.

She said he had been staying at their mother’s home in Portrush and was “lying on the floor, off his face”.

When PSNI officers arrived at the property, they arrested Patterson and seized 79 items stolen during the crime spree.

A judge told the court that because of the number of victims, numerous victim impact statements may be lodged ahead of sentencing.

A pre-sentence probation report was ordered and Patterson was remanded back into custody.

The case is due back in court on March 20.