ONE MAN CRIMEWAVE JAILED OVER LATE NIGHT RAID ON WH SMITH
Burglar committed 228 previous offences
BURGLAR Lee Pemberton stole hundreds of pounds worth of cigarettes after breaking into a town centre shop in the middle of the night.
The 42-year-old – who has 228 previous offences on his criminal record – was told someone had got into WH Smith, Newcastle, in the early hours of the morning.
He returned with one of the offenders to the store, climbed through the dislodged glass panel, and helped himself to cigarettes.
In total, the offenders stole £2,110.29 worth of cigarettes and tobacco.
The offence was committed while Pemberton was subject to two suspended jail sentences for commercial burglaries.
Now he has been jailed for 26 weeks at Stoke-on-trent Crown Court.
Prosecutor Nick Tatlow said two unidentified offenders went to WH Smith at 2am on January 19.
Mr Tatlow said: “One kept watch while the other went to the door and back-heeled the panel. He went in the store and went to the area where cigarettes and tobacco are kept. But he left empty-handed.
“At 2.47am, the same man returned accompanied by the defendant.
“The defendant went through the same dislodged glass panel and was followed by the man who kicked it in the first place. They left with bags of stolen property. The defendant had a carrier bag. The other man had a bin bag.
“The stolen cigarettes and tobacco were worth £2,110.29. They returned to the Lyme Trust in London Road, Newcastle.”
The burglary and the two men returning to the Lyme Trust was captured on CCTV. Police viewed the footage and recognised Pemberton.
He was arrested at 2.40pm. His room was searched, but none of the stolen property was recovered.
Pemberton, of London Road, Newcastle, pleaded guilty to burglary.
Kelly Cyples, mitigating, said one of the original burglars returned to the Lyme Trust with some cigarettes.
She said: “When the defendant inquired as to where they had them from, he was told and he immediately took that opportunity to see what was left. He took 33 packets of cigarettes, worth in the region of £330.
“He relapsed into heroin use. He saw this opportunity which presented itself before him and he took it, no doubt to fund his return to drug use.
“He has spoken to the Lyme Trust and they will have him returned there. He does have a further opportunity to tackle his addiction on his release from the inevitable custodial sentence.”
Recorder Patrick Upward QC said: “You were doing so well. I give you credit for that, and for your plea in relation to this.
“I have been generous to you. I hope you manage to succeed this time.”