A Lewisham man has been jailed after his attempted burglary was live-streamed on the web by a ‘fox family’ camera installed by Springwatch presenter Simon King.
Nigel Batton, 43, of Marischal Road, was spied climbing over a fence and through the garden of a Herne Hill home in the early hours of January 12 last year.
His movements were captured by a 'fox family' camera installed in a neighbouring property to film urban wildlife, and streaming live to Simon King's wildlife website.
The footage also showed him looking through the slat blinds of a studio office and trying to open the door before walking off across the garden.
After the images were shared through the media, several calls identified the burglar as Batton.
A scarf found at the scene of the burglary contained Batton's DNA and, when police searched his home, they recovered the same distinctive cardigan he was wearing on the night.
Yesterday (June 15) he was convicted of burglary and attempted burglary at Woolwich Crown Court and jailed for four-and-a-half years.
Detective Constable Marie Hamilton from Southwark police said: "The images from the Fox family camera were brilliant and together with the forensics we have been able to ensure that Batton has been brought to justice."
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