A BURGLAR convicted of stealing from North Yorkshire country houses has received an extra prison sentence for going on the run for nearly four years.
Michael Edward Kenny, 50, skipped bail at his trial in November 2007 and was sentenced to eight years in prison in his absence for six high-value burglaries involving the theft of antiques, paintings and jewellery.
He stole valuables worth more than £35,000 from six houses in the Malton, Great Broughton and York areas.
Kenny was arrested last week after being found living in Luton, Bedfordshire.
Nicholas Barker told York Crown Court in mitigation that Kenny had gone on the run because he was unhappy with the way his trial was being conducted.
The Recorder of York, Judge Stephen Ashurst, said Kenny would now have to serve the eight years plus an additional eigh- month consecutive sentence for failing to surrender to custody.
He said: “You are a man with a record of serious offending over 30 years. You are a career thief.
“The fact that you have been on the run for three-and-a-half years must factor into your sentence today.
“It would make a mockery of the court system if defendants attended as and when they wished depending on a whim of that nature.” In prosecution, Chris Smith told the court that despite a “proactive approach” by police to trace Kenny, including articles in the press and a piece on BBC Crimewatch, he was “discovered by chance” living in Luton.
In mitigation Mr Barker said: “Kenny realises no good could come of it and no good has come of it. That’s something he is sorry for and apologises to the court.
“It’s his firm belief that he was not receiving a fair trial and it was that fact in his mind that caused him to flee.”
The Press has previously reported how Kenny used his girlfriend’s York home as a base for targeting secluded and isolated properties including Foston Hall, near Whitwell-on-the-Hill, Settrington House, near Malton, and South Park, at Hutton Wandesley near Rufforth.
He was said to have got away with valuable items worth £7,500 from Foston Hall and antiques worth £11,500 from Settrington House in 2004.
He also took a £3,000 painting from South Park which was later offered for sale at a London auction house.
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