A TWICE-convicted rapist jailed only last year for a campaign of burglaries in Northampton served just a fraction of his prison sentence.
Nikolajs Petrovs, 51, was sentenced to four years and eight months’ imprisonment at Northampton Crown Court in April last year for a two-month campaign of burglaries, all committed within a two-mile radius of his Abington address in Northampton.
Petrovs, who claims to be from Latvia, but who is believed to be Russian, admitted committing 12 burglaries and five attempted break-ins, shortly after arriving in the UK after being released from his last prison sentence imposed for rape.
He served just 14 months of a 56-month sentence in prison before being released, despite being recommended for deportation at the time.
And last week, he appeared in court in the Republic of Ireland after carrying out another burglary in Dundalk.
However, despite his record for burglaries and also rapes, Petrovs was again released and walked out of Dundalk Courthouse because Gardai were not told of his previous convictions.
The court heard he was released early from his UK sentence by the Home Secretary, Theresa May on condition that he leave Britain.
Petrovs, formerly of Stimpson Avenue, Abington, has since been staying in Dundalk after his arrest on September 7 and told Dundalk district court, through an interpreter, he now wanted to leave Ireland.
He said had just €100, along with his passport, and would go to his country’s embassy to see if they will assist his departure, so he was granted bail and is due back before Judge Flann Brennan tomorrow.
He was twice jailed for rape, sentenced to six-and-a-half years in 1990 and to six years in 2000, which the Irish court was not told about.
It is understood Gardai only had access to his UK conviction for burglary, not the two rapes and a 1999 burglary in Latvia.
A spokesperson for the Garda said: “We do not discuss named individuals”.
Felicity Gerry, prosecuting at Northampton Crown Court, said the professional burglar used a screwdriver and spanner to take out door locks.
She added: “It was the same modus operandi on each and every occasion.
“They were mostly in daytime and sometimes [the properties were] occupied. All these burglaries and attempted burglaries took place in a two-mile radius of the defendant’s address using with what one might call an accomplished methodology.
“The defendant would bang on the door of a household and when someone was alerted and he was seen, that would be an attempted burglary, but the vast majority were unoccupied, having banged on the door to ensure the property was empty.”
Sentencing in April 2011, Judge Charles Wide QC said: “The impact of your criminality is not just the losses you caused, although that’s been substantial. It is also the damage you have done and the professional way in which you did it.”