TWO men from Godalming have been sentenced to four years each after admitting to more than 40 burglaries and thefts of nine cars across Waverley between October 2018 and January 2019.

The value of items stolen amounted to nearly £1 million.

Jordan Newell, 23, of Milford Lodge, Godalming, and Danny Brazil, 20, of Eashing Lane, Godalming, pleaded guilty to the offences and were sentenced at Guildford Crown Court today (April 5l).

The pair targeted properties in the dark and used ladders from sheds and garages to climb into the houses through the top floor windows.

They focused on stealing jewellery, cash and other items of value, as well as chainsaws, hedge trimmers and other garden machinery. They also took firearms from some of the homes.

In December 2018, an officer located a stolen Porsche which had been used at several of the break-ins. While officers awaited recovery, Newell was seen approaching the car in his Mercedes. Once he spotted the officers patrol car, he made off at speed driving erratically.

The officers pursued the Mercedes. When it eventually came to a stop a few minutes later, Newell was arrested for failing to stop.

In his car, officers found two crowbars, a sledgehammer and a long-handled axe. He was further arrested on suspicion of burglary where the Porsche was stolen. An analysis of his phone identified text exchanges between him and Brazil which confirmed they were accomplices in the series of burglaries.

Brazil was arrested in January after officers searched his van and found a full face balaclava, gloves, and a large amount of property which had been stolen from the burglaries.

Newell and Brazil were subsequently charged with four offences of burglary, two offences of theft of motor vehicles. They then admitted to 40 more offences which were taken into consideration at sentencing.

The pair also told officers where several firearms taken during the burglaries were hidden, these were then recovered.

Newell, 23, of Milford Road, Godalming pleaded guilty to 45 offences, and was sentenced to four years and eight months.

Brazil, 20, of Eashing Lane, Godalming pleaded guilty to 46 offences, and was sentenced to four years.

Detective Constable Daniel Byrne of Surrey Police’s Local Proactive Unit, who led the investigation, said: “This was a complex investigation due to the nature of the burglaries. The team worked tirelessly to piece together clues in order to build up enough evidence to pursue a prosecution against the two men.

“I hope the sentences given to Newell and Brazil have provided some form of closure for their victims and has reassured the local community that we take these offences seriously and will do everything we can to ensure that those committing burglary are identified and brought to justice.

“I also hope that the sentences given to them will act as a deterrent to anyone else who is thinking they can come into Surrey and commit burglary, and sends a strong message that we will pursue them and they will be dealt with robustly”