Homeless drug addict who burgled Jewish homes is jailed for six years
Steven Lovell, 47, put behind bars after blood left at the scene of a Manchester home allows police to identify him
A homeless drug addict who burgled Jewish properties in Manchester because he thought Jews were rich has been jailed for six years.
Steven Lovell, 47, was finally caught earlier this year by volunteers from the neighbourhood watch group Shomrim, who handed him in to the police. He had targeted homes and cars owned by Jews in Salford.
Lovell cut himself while breaking into the first home near Broughton Park through a conservatory window, leaving blood at the scene. This allowed police officers to later identify him through his DNA.
During another break-in, Lovell came face-to-face with a male householder who backed off for fear that he would be attacked. Although Lovell made off with the man’s wife’s handbag, the man was later able to identify him from a police line-up.
On another occasion, in April, a terrified Jewish family with five children was woken by him banging downstairs, as he made off with two candelabras worth £2,500 and a silver goblet worth £500.
He was finally caught by Shomrim volunteers who were called by a woman reporting that a man was breaking into her car. Lovell was trying to get £10 in change in the centre console.
Defence lawyer Duncan Philips said Lovell was acting through desperation, adding that he had no accommodation, no food and a drug addiction.
Sentencing, Judge Richard Mansell agreed that Lovell had not targeted Jewish households for reasons of prejudice, saying: “You were aware there would likely be high value ornaments in the house… You are becoming a menace to society.”
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
