Burglar Who Stole From Ealing's Polish Church Jailed

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Brian Harding sentenced to 16 months

An Acton Man who was caught on CCTV stealing a laptop from Ealing's Polish Church has been jailed.

Brian Harding, 44 of Western Avenue, pleaded guilty to burglary at Isleworth Crown Court on 18 May and was sentenced to one year and four months' imprisonment.

He also pleaded guilty to a separate charge of theft of a pedal cycle for which he was sentenced to three months' imprisonment. These sentences are to run consecutively.

On Monday, 4 May just after 17:00hrs, Harding entered the Polish Catholic Church in Windsor Road, Ealing. The church was open to the public but the gallery was closed and access was blocked by a locked metal slatted gate. Harding was seen on CCTV to squeeze through the locked gate and gain entry to the gallery. He searched the gallery for about 20 minutes before taking a laptop which was on a pew. He was then seen on CCTV to walk out of the church with the laptop.

Harding was identified from CCTV and arrested and charged on 7 May. He pleaded guilty at court.

Harding also pleaded guilty to theft of a pedal cycle. On 1 October 2014, a 32-year-old woman secured her bike in Gunnersbury Avenue, Ealing. When she returned the bike was gone. CCTV was viewed which showed Harding taking the bike. He was identified and arrested on 11 November and charged on 10 December.

Officer in the case, Detective Constable Richard Thomas said: “The sentence handed down today will ensure our communities are protected from further offending by Harding. We will continue to target those responsible for burglary and theft across the borough.”

2nd June 2015