Thief broke into two neighbouring Alnwick shops and stole vapes and clothes
by Sara Nichol · ChronicleLiveA thief used a crowbar to break into one Northumberland store than also burgled a neighbouring shop 24 hours later.
Elias Gray first targeted The Yorkshire Trading Company, in Alnwick, during the night and made off with £165-worth of vapes before going into Trespass the following night and stealing £443.91-worth of clothing and a bag. A court heard that the 43-year-old, who has previous convictions for dangerous driving and breaching a restraining order, then also stole £40-worth of baked goods from Grannies, a cafe in the town, later the same day.
Gray was arrested for those matters and banned from going into the three premises as part of his bail conditions but he ignored the rules and walked into Yorkshire Trading on Sunday, November 24, and helped himself to two chocolate bars. Staff recognised the crook and he was further arrested.
Gray, of St Michael's Square, in Alnwick has now been given a 12-month community order after he pleaded guilty to two counts of burglary of a non-dwelling and two of shop theft. Claire Armstrong, prosecuting at Newcastle Magistrates' Court, said Gray had forced his way into The Yorkshire Trading Company using a crowbar on October 14 this year before burgling Trespass 24 hours later.
All the items from both burglaries were recovered but the baked goods Gray later stole from Grannies were not. Speaking of the theft from Yorkshire Trading on November 24, Miss Armstrong said: "The defendant was on bail not to enter that shop at the time.
"He entered the Yorkshire Trading Company at 10am and selected two bars of chocolate, worth £2.78, and then purchased some items at the till, two vapes, but he's not paid for the chocolate bars." The court heard that Gray had 46 offences on his record and was last convicted in December 2020, when he was jailed for nine months for dangerous driving, driving while disqualified, failing to provide a specimen and having no insurance.
Peter Doherty, defending, said Gray had previously misused drugs and was working with his doctor. Mr Doherty added: "He's only got one offence for dishonesty on his record, so something is clearly upsetting him.
"His past offending is mainly linked to driving. He's not generally a dishonest man." Magistrates also ordered Gray to pay £40 compensation to Grannies and £2.78 to The Yorkshire Trading Company. He must also pay £85 costs.
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