Burglar claimed he was trying to buy a ferret

A suspected intruder claimed he was trying to buy a ferret when he was arrested as he walked out through the broken door of a burgled house. John Acres said he went to the home of a fellow country sports enthusiast to get a ferret rather than to try to raid his gun cabinet, Exeter Crown Court was told. He was allegedly caught red-handed as he left the Exeter home of farm worker Kenneth Andrews after police were alerted to a raid in progress by an anonymous call.

Householder Mr Andrews told a jury he had not invited Acres to his home and had not kept ferrets for at least ten years. Acres, aged 43, of Exeter, Devon, denies burglary. He says he arrived at the house to find a panel in the door smashed and went inside to check on Mr Andrews’ welfare. Miss Bathsheba Cassel, prosecuting, said police were called to the house in February by an anonymous call and found a large hole in a panel of the double-glazed front door.
She said:”We say the defendant was caught red handed during the course of the burglary. He was stopped as he left found with bags which could have been used to carry loot and clothing which may be worn by a burglar including a balaclava and gloves. “When police spoke to him he said he had gone there to collect a ferret. The most concerning aspect of this case is that Mr Andrews was a licensed firearms keeper and we say the firearms were deliberately targeted by the burglar.
“We say he burgled the house and this is shown by the evidence along with his quite ridiculous story about the ferret.” PC Ian Freestone said he arrested Acres coming out of the house and was told: ”I only went there to buy a ferret. That’s the last time I try to help anyone.” Mr Andrews said he had gone ferreting with Acres 15 to 20 years ago but had not kept ferrets for at least ten years or had any contact with Acres for two years or more.