Guitar thief banned from city centre
A THIEF who swiped a musician’s guitar from the stage at a Manchester concert has been banned from the city centre.
Kevin Gibson, described by a judge as a ‘chancer’ who comes into the city centre to steal, was sentenced to 18 months in prison for theft.
He stole a red Hofner Verithin owned by Tommy Ashby, who had left the instrument on stage before he was due to perform as the support act for singersongwriter Jamie Lawson at Manchester Cathedral, and then due to perform in Lawson’s band as lead guitarist.
The guitar, a family heirloom which was passed down to Mr Ashby by his father, has not been recovered since.
Manchester Crown Court heard that Mr Ashby, 30, had completed a soundcheck and had left the venue to find something to eat. About half an hour later, Gibson was seen leaving the Cathedral with the guitar.
Mr Ashby returned after 6pm to find his guitar had vanished. He continued with the gig after borrowing another guitar.
Gibson, 54, was later identified from CCTV footage and arrested. Initially he denied stealing the guitar, but he pleaded guilty to one count of theft before magistrates, prosecutor Simone Flynn said.
The court heard how Gibson previously received a suspended sentence for burglary, after breaking into a private staff area at the Midland Hotel and stealing a rucksack. In a report asking for a criminal behaviour order to be imposed, police said Gibson, of Royce Road, Hulme, ‘comes into the city centre primarily to commit crime.’
Previously, the court heard how Gibson had since tried to find the guitar, which he said he left at a property after stealing it. It is not there, the court heard, and Gibson has asked all his friends and has not heard anything about its whereabouts.
Defending, Jaime Hamilton said the offence was ‘opportunistic’ and not pre-planned. He said Gibson has a problem with alcohol. Mr Hamilton appealed to the judge to hand down a suspended sentence, so Gibson could try to tackle his drink problem.
But sentencing, Judge Anthony Cross QC said: “You have breached orders so many times in the past I’m afraid I simply cannot trust your good intentions.
“Sadly for you though, you are an alcoholic. You have committed offence after offence over a long, long period of time. Your victim was someone who did not deserve that which happened to him. He and his family lost a valuable item which will never ever be replaced.”
The judge also granted the criminal behaviour order, which will prevent Gibson from entering the city centre for three years upon his release.