Published: September 8, 2008
Burnham-On-Sea PCSOs praised as Torquay man is sent to prison

The swift work of two PCSOs in Burnham-On-Sea has been praised this week after a Torquay man was sentenced to 27 months imprisonment following a theft in the town in July.

Simon Lewis Mortimer, 38, of Torquay appeared at Taunton Crown Court charged with theft, handling stolen goods and absconding from lawful custody.

His swift arrest came after the hard work and quick-thinking of two local Police Community Support Officers on Friday July 18th when a jewellery store in the centre of Burnham was the victim of a robbery.

PCSOs Gill Udall, pictured, and Susan Venn-Adams took it upon themselves to search the local area and make door to door enquiries with local businesses in the area.

Staff in Burnham's Railway Inn confirmed that someone fitting the description of the offender had been there earlier that day and CCTV footage confirmed that it was the man in question.

The officers were told that he had asked for a local taxi number, so they then contacted the company, obtained the offender’s phone number and found out that he was taken to Weston train station where he was travelling to Bristol.

PCSOs Udall and Venn-Adams then contacted Bristol Transport Police who managed to catch up with the offender at Bristol Temple Meads where he was found to have a number of diamond rings on his person.

Sergeant Ian Kennett of Burnham police told Burnham-On-Sea.com: "The quick thinking and dedication of PCSO Udall, PCSO Venn-Adams directly led to the arrest of the offender. We will not tolerate this type of crime in Burnham and hope that this result is a reassurance to members of the public."