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A burglar who came face-to-face with his intended victim’s pet cat was so scared that he fled from the property empty handed, police have said.<\/p>\n
Cheshire Police said Nexi “confronted” Callum Quirk after the career criminal sneaked into a house in McClellan Place, Widnes, through a downstairs window on 9 September.<\/p>\n
As Nexi’s terrified owner dialled 999 while hiding in her wardrobe, the cat left the bedroom and ran into the hallway and came across a startled Quirk.<\/p>\n
The 27-year-old, of Thirlmere Way in the town, was jailed for 35 months at Chester Crown Court after admitting burglary at a previous hearing.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Detectives used CCTV footage and forensics gathered at the scene before arresting Quirk.<\/p>\n
He originally denied the offence but forensic work on a discarded can found at the scene matched his DNA.<\/p>\n
Trainers seized from Quirk’s feet were also matched to the crime scene CCTV footage.<\/p>\n
Detective Constable Stuart Beswick said: “This woman was terrified in her own home – a place where she should rightfully feel safe.<\/p>\n
“This time he met his match in Nexi the cat. When confronted in the victim’s hallway Quirk ran scared from the property empty-handed. <\/p>\n
“The bravery of Nexi is to be commended in this case and her actions most certainly stopped the victim having a terrifying confrontation with Quirk and kept her belongings safe from him.”<\/p>\n
Nexi, 13, was adopted as a one-year-old by the victim in Dubai.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n