A 'selfish' Wirral man has been jailed for four years after snatching a wallet from a sheltered accommodation flat in Birkenhead.

Michael Lorraine, 54, of no fixed address, was sentenced to four years in jail for burglary and attempted burglary at Liverpool Crown Court on Monday, October 14.

At around 11.20pm on Tuesday, August 6, a man attempted to gain entry to a house in Telford Close, Oxton but failed and ran away when a security light was activated.

It was then reported that at around 12.45am on Wednesday, August 7 that a man had forced entry through a window of a supported living flat in Maritime Park before snatching a wallet with cash and cards.

Following an investigation by officers from Merseyside Police's Operation Castle Lorraine was arrested and subsequently charged in relation to the incidents.

Detective sergeant John Fitzgerald said: “We welcome the sentencing of Michael Lorraine, a prolific offender who had no regard for the victims of his selfish actions, and we are sure the Wirral communities will be satisfied that he has been removed from the streets for a significant period of time.

“I would like to remind people to lock all their windows and doors before going to bed, move any vehicle keys away from sight of windows and the reach of letter boxes and lock garden tools in sheds so that they cannot be used to force entry into properties.

“Burglary is not a victimless crime and can be devastating for those affected. Through Operation Castle, the forces response to burglary, we will continue to target offenders and put them before the courts.”

Detectives are now appealing for anyone with information about burglaries to report it to Merseyside Police via social media @MerPolCC, call 101 or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 111 555.

Any information into burglaries can also be directly reported to Operation Castle officers on 0151 777 7926 or operation.castle@merseyside.pnn.police.uk.