On-the-run burglar hunted by police

A BURGLAR who stole an antique pair of ballet shoes worth �40,000 after befriending an elderly pensioner and terrorising his family has gone on the run.

Graham Shoebridge, 37, failed to show up for his sentencing at Blackfriars Crown Court last Friday after pleading guilty to burglary and criminal damage.

Last year Shoebridge befriended a 79-year-old Islington man before moving into his Crouch Hill home - only to systematically harass and steal from him.

When the pensioner's family forced Shoebridge to move out, he began making obscene phone calls to the victim's elderly sister and sending offensive letters about his dead partner. In December the victim found his treasured pair of antique Margot Fonteyn ballet shoes had been stolen and called in police.

Shoebridge fled Islington and travelled the country to evade capture. He was eventually arrested in Torquay in June for committing a similar offence against another gay man.

Now police are hunting Shoebridge once again.

Detective Sergeant Julie Henderson said: "We would urgently like to trace Graham Shoebridge, who has previously targeted members of the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and transgender) community. Although he is not thought to be dangerous, he is capable of doing this to someone else and we want to prevent this happening."

"This has been extremely upsetting for the victims and their families, and we want to trace him to ensure he is sentenced for these crimes. I would also ask anyone who knows anything that could help us find Shoebridge, or thinks they have previously been a victim of this type of crime, to please get in touch with us. People should be aware that he may be using a different alias."

Anyone with information about this should call the police on 0300 123 1212 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 to remain anonymous.