Wirral man jailed for primary school burglary

A WIRRAL man has been jailed for burgling a primary school in Noctorum.

James Dean, 45, of no fixed abode was sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court yesterday (July 22) to two years and eight months after pleading guilty to burglary at St Peter’s Catholic Primary School where he stole money boxes containing around £650 and a CCTV hard drive.

Dean had forced entry to the school on St Peter’s Way by kicking down the front door at around 11:35pm on May 25 2026, setting off the burglar alarm.

He was discovered by police a short time later hiding in a nearby garden with large amounts of cash in his pockets wearing socks on his hands and a pair of boxer shorts as a face covering.

Neighbourhood Policing Inspector Nicola Hughes said: “Burglary has a significant impact on victims and in this case a school was targeted – a place that should be a safe environment for children to learn and thrive.

“Thanks to the quick response of officers, Dean was arrested shortly after the offence and has now been held accountable for his actions.

“This sentence should send a clear message that we will relentlessly pursue those who commit burglary and put them before the courts.

“While we continue to target offenders, we also want to help people protect themselves to make it even harder for criminals to commit crime. “Our ‘Think Like a Thief’ campaign offers simple, practical advice that can make it much harder for criminals to strike.

“We would encourage everyone to take a fresh look at their homes and businesses from a burglar’s perspective. By working together, we can make the greatest difference.”

This summer, Merseyside Police is encouraging residents to look at their homes through a ‘thief’s eyes’ and identify issues that could make them a target for burglary.

Using real-life burglary tactics as inspiration, the force’s latest burglary prevention campaign shows how offenders exploit security weaknesses and highlights the simple measures residents can take to reduce their risk of becoming a victim.

Visit the Merseyside Police website and search ‘Think Like a Thief’ for more advice: Think Like a Thief | Merseyside Police

Noctorum is one of three focus areas in EVOLVE Wirral, Merseyside's local Clear, Hold, Build strategy, where police and partners are working alongside communities to reduce crime, increase confidence and create safer, stronger and more resilient neighbourhoods.

You can share any other information you think is useful via the Merseyside Police social media desk on X @MerPolCC or Facebook ‘Merseyside Police Contact Centre’.

You can also pass information via Crimestoppers anonymously, on 0800 555 111 or via their online form at: https://crimestoppers-uk.org