Burglar refuses to go to court

Maloney must attend the next hearing

A prolific burglar has refused to attend court to be sentenced for 590 break-ins across Britain.

Martin Maloney posed as a plain clothes police officer to steal more than £250,000 from his largely elderly victims.

The 22-year-old, from Kentish Town, north London, had already admitted two burglaries.

He was due to ask for a further 588 to be taken into consideration at Harrow Crown Court.

'Unfortunate precedent'

But on Friday he told prison officers at Belmarsh prison in south east London that he was not going to leave his cell.

Matthew Scott, defending, told the hearing his client was refusing to co-operate.

Adjourning the case to 19 December, Judge Robert Sich said he wanted to make it clear Maloney must be "produced" on the next occasion.

He added: "Obviously it is not for him to decide whether to attend court or not ... it would be rather an unfortunate precedent if defendants are allowed to decide that."