Man jailed for 13 years over 'nightmare' crime spree

A man has been jailed for 13 years for a series of burglaries, robbery, blackmail and criminal damage during a month-long crime spree in Bassetlaw.

Nottinghamshire Police said James Rylance burgled three homes where he armed himself with weapons, and during a street robbery he threatened to throw acid at a man.

The force said when officers came to arrest the 30-year-old on 3 July, he forced his way through the loft ceiling of a house, clambered on to the roof and threw tiles at officers below for four hours before climbing down.

Det Con Jack Reasbeck said his behaviour "was utterly disgraceful and put the people he targeted through a nightmare ordeal".

Rylance, of Arundel Walk, in Bircotes, Nottinghamshire, was found guilty at trial of robbery, blackmail, three counts of aggravated burglary, four counts of criminal damage to property over £5,000 and destroying or damaging property of a value unknown.

Police said a homeless man was the first person to be targeted by Rylance on 6 June, when he threatened to throw a bottle of acid at him unless he handed over cash.

Despite taking all the cash the man had, Rylance then attempted to blackmail him later that day for more money.

Officers said he went on to break into three separate homes – often at night – and threatened the homeowners with weapons and demanded cash.

On 25 June, Rylance climbed in through a window and told a woman he would use the knife he was carrying, unless she gave him money, before leaving empty-handed.

Police said he targeted a second property in the early hours of 29 June armed with a metal bar and a knife, before smashing a window to gain access.

Once inside, he used the metal bar to repeatedly strike the homeowner, ransacked her property, took her car keys and fled from the scene in her vehicle, the force added.

Officers said the third aggravated burglary took place on 3 July with the offender bursting into an elderly couple's home in Bircotes and threatening them with a knife.

He snatched a set of keys, fled through a window and made his way to another property.

It was here he was tracked down by police, but made a hole from inside on to the roof.

Reasbeck said he "left his victims terrified".

Rylance has also been sentenced to a 10-year restraining order.

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