Burglar Thomas Wellman jailed after creating fake Facebook profile to steal bike listed for sale in Pennington

A MAN who used a fake Facebook profile to burgle a Pennington home has been jailed for nearly three years.

Thomas Wellman (25), of Commercial Road, Southampton, pleaded guilty to the theft of a bicycle listed for sale on Facebook Marketplace, along with other offences when he appeared at the city’s crown court.

The prosecution told how on 7th February 2022, Wellman used a fake profile to arrange to visit an address in Corbin Road to view the bike.

Having left it in a lean-to for the viewing, the victim, a man in his 30s, later found it was missing.

He then saw a Nissan Micra driving away with the bike in the back.

Police found the car a few hours later in Shakespeare Drive, Totton, and Wellman was seen walking nearby.

A match from DNA found at the scene led to his arrest on 21st April 2022, and analysis of his phone data showed he was in the area when the burglary took place.

He had also been accessing the fake Facebook account.

Sent down for a total of two years and 10 months, Wellman’s sentence included 18 months for the burglary.

He was also jailed for dangerous driving after failing to stop for police on 30th November 2022, when he drove at 136mph and went the wrong way around a roundabout.

In addition to this, there were two counts of assaulting an emergency worker after Wellman kicked an officer and spat at another during the dangerous driving arrest. Finally, he had breached bail conditions by cutting off his tag on 7th October 2022.

Welcoming the sentencing, police staff investigator (PSI) Sarah Stewart said: “Your home is somewhere you should feel safe – which is why dwelling burglaries can be so traumatic for those affected, beyond the impact of the belongings that are stolen.

“This sentence shows we will use all the tools at our disposal, including forensics, to bring offenders to justice and I hope it reassures our communities that we take burglary very seriously.”

The burglary has been cited in a warning to people of the potential dangers of selling goods online.

Sellers are urged to be aware and alert police if they have been involved in correspondence that has made them feel suspicious or uncomfortable.

PSI Stewart continued: “If someone’s message or profile seems suspicious, trust your instincts and walk away.

“If possible, try to avoid telling people where you live and instead meet in a public place to buy or sell an item.”