Callous North East thieves who've appeared in court - including one who targeted dementia sufferer
by Kali Lindsay · ChronicleLiveThese brazen thieves have targeted the vulnerable and stores as they stole cash, alcohol, designer gear - and even chicken.
A drug-addicted burglar broke into the County Durham home of an 81-year-old dementia sufferer and stole his wallet - just two weeks after being released from prison.
Another brazen crook walked straight to a nearby shop after being released from custody in order to steal - whilst on bail for biting a police officer. And, one hapless Benwell thief was captured on camera stealing chicken from the back of a delivery van after his dog sniffed it out.
In one case, two Throckley brothers, who wanted to get drunk but didn't have the funds to pay for alcohol, brazenly walked into a supermarket and helped themselves £330-worth of bottles of spirits.
A thieving Byker woman stole more than £1,200-worth of clothes and booze when she targeted two stores on five occasions - on order to fund a drug habit.
Here we look at cases that have been before the courts in recent weeks.
Criminal brothers stole booze in order to get 'off their faces'
Daniel and Kevin Chapman decided they wanted to get drunk because their mother had become unwell, however, the jobless duo didn't have the funds to pay for alcohol. But that didn't stop the sticky-fingered siblings after they both brazenly walked into a supermarket and helped themselves £330-worth of bottles of spirits, a court heard.
Unfortunately for Daniel, 26, and Kevin, 29, both of Woodlands Court, in Throckley, staff had spotted what they were doing and they were detained as they left the shop. Now, Daniel, who was on licence from prison at the time, has been given a 12-month community order, with 40 hours of unpaid work, and Kevin has been fined £80, with a £32 victim surcharge, after they pleaded guilty to one count each of shop theft.
Paul Coulson, prosecuting at Newcastle Magistrates' Court, said the brothers walked in the Co-op store, in Prudhoe, on August 28 this year and were seen placing bottles of spirits into their jackets. They were stopped on their way out and the goods were recovered.
John Kickham, defending, said both siblings had managed to stay out of trouble since September 2022 but they'd both struggled with the news that their mum, who lives down south, had been ill.
Mr Kirkham added: "It's prompted them to say, in their words, 'let's go and get off our faces'. They have no money for alcohol, so they decided to steal it." Magistrates were told that, since the theft, Daniel had managed to secure a job stacking shelves with Iceland.
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Burglar broke into home of 81-year-old dementia sufferer
Mason Curley had only been out of prison for two weeks and was on an electronic tag when he burgled the 81-year-old man's home on September 25 this year. The sleeping victim woke up to find Curley in his bedroom before shouting at him to get out.
Curley fled the Murton property with the man's wallet, which had £20 cash inside. He was later arrested as his GPS electronic tag showed he was in the area at the time of the break-in.
On Friday, Curley, of Luke Crescent, Murton, appeared at Durham Crown Court via link from HMP Durham to be sentenced for burglary. The 31-year-old had pleaded guilty to the offence.
The court heard that the elderly victim is "vulnerable, fragile, and suffering from dementia". Martin Towers, prosecuting, said: "He lives on his own and has little money. He has been targeted over the last two years with seven burglaries, two of which his vehicle had been stolen."
The victim was asleep in bed in the early hours of the morning when Curley broke in. Mr Towers said: "He heard a banging coming from the stairs and was aware the defendant had entered the bedroom. [The victim] shouted 'get out', and the defendant turned around and left. A wallet was stolen from the kitchen, which had £20 inside and various cards."
The court heard Curley had been released from prison merely two weeks before the burglary and was wearing a GPS enabled electronic tag. The tag data linked him to the burglary and he was also captured on doorbell footage.
When he was arrested, he initially denied the burglary and claimed the tag was faulty. Curley had three previous convictions for burglary and had previously been jailed for burglary and theft offences.
Jamie Adams, defending, said there was no evidence to suggest Curley had targeted the victim or knew who the house belonged to. He said the victim seems a "robust individual" but accepted he was vulnerable.
He added: "[Curley] has been blighted by drug addiction since the age of 15. It has been addiction that has been driving everything in his life and bringing him backwards and forwards into the legal system."
Recorder ATA Dallas jailed Curley for 32 months.(Image: Durham Constabulary)
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Crook went straight out shoplifting after being released from custody
Paul Bolam, who was also on bail for biting a police officer at the time, was let out of Forth Banks Police Station following his arrest and headed just around the corner to Sainsbury's, where he helped himself to more than £130-worth of food and drinks. The 42-year-old was spotted by a store worker and, as a result, was back behind bars just an hour after being released.
This time, the serial pest, formerly of Sunderland but now of no fixed abode, was kept in a cell overnight and appeared at Newcastle Magistrates' Court in custody to pleaded guilty to shop theft. He also admitted a further shoplifting offence, assaulting an emergency worker and possession of cannabis.
Glenda Beck, prosecuting, said the first shoplifting offence happened on August 26 when Bolam stole tins of salmon, of an unknown value, from Sainsbury's at Newcastle's Monument. Then, on October 13 this year, police were called to Gladstone Street, in Sunderland, following reports of a disturbance.
Mrs Beck said Bolam turned aggressive with the officers and he was arrested, prompting him to admit he had a small bag of cannabis hidden in his sock. While in a cell, Bolam assaulted one of the constables.
Mr Beck continued: "The officer entered the cell and was attempting to take hold of the defendant's left arm. As he was attempting to do this, he felt pressure and pain in his right wrist. He looed down and saw that the defendant had his teeth on his wrist, biting him."
The court heard that the officer had been wearing gloves at the time, so no skin was broken but red marks had been left. Finally, Bolam, who has 78 offences for theft alone on his record, was arrested for a unrelated matter on Sunday, November 3, and was subsequently released from Forth Banks Police Station, in Newcastle City Centre.
Mrs Beck added: "Less than an hour later, he entered the Sainsbury's store at Newcastle Central Station and stole drinks and food worth £138.68. He placed the goods in a Co-op carrier bag.
"He was detained by store staff and the British Transport Police were called. The defendant was arrested at 8.20pm and taken back to Forth Banks."
The court heard that Bolam was a prolific shoplifter but it was "out of character" for him to assault police. Jonathan Pigford, defending, said: "Mr Bolam has significant issues with alcohol and cannabis use.
"It's disheartening to note that he had made some progress on his post-sentence supervision but it's the continuation of offending, which is due to his alcohol and cannabis use, that is the problem."
Jailing Bolam, who has also been recalled to prison, for 16 weeks, District Judge Paul Currer said: "Unfortunately, you continue to offend and it's right that it's your addiction to alcohol and cannabis that has led to that offending. It's led you to have a pretty miserable existence."
Bolam must also pay £100 compensation to the officer he bit.(Image: Newcastle Chronicle)
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