Thief reversed car into shop before stealing charity tin

Crime

A burglar who smashed up a shop front by reversing a car into it before making off with a charity box has been jailed for two years.

David Campbell of Ledham, Orton Brimbles, was arrested in the early hours of May 8 after being spotted leaving Stanground News, Food and Wine with the box and loose coins from behind the till. On detaining Campbell, police then discovered that he had no licence or insurance.

While in custody the 34-year-old then admitted forcing entry into Utopia Hair & Beauty in Eastfield on April 12 by smashing glass windows at the front of the salon, before making off with a charity box and numerous hair products.

Describing the Stanground burglary, Sally Hobson, prosecuting, said: “He smashed up the whole shop front. ”

Campbell had 23 previousconvictions from 51 offences. He had been sentenced David Campbell

to 12 weeks imprisonment in January for shoplifting and carried out his burglaries soon after being released. Nenad Spasojevic, defending, said Campbell was trying to fund his drug addiction, and he told Peterborough Crown Court that he should be offered help rather than face another jail term.

Campbell was sentenced to two years for the first burglary and 12 weeks for the second, to run concurrently. He was also disqualified from driving for a year.