THREE men involved in a Carlisle crime spree earlier this year have been sentenced by a judge.
Four city centre businesses were targeted during a spate of offending in September and early October.
Tyler Nunn, 21, was caught after he and two unknown others broke into Linton Tweeds, Shaddongate, on September 27 when the items stolen included jewellery and a charity box. Nunn, who later offered some of the loot for sale, had also tried to break into a Carlisle city centre fish and chip six days earlier. Analysis of text messages revealed, in addition, he had offered to supply class A cocaine and class B cannabis to others.
Tjay O’Neil, 27, and 26-year-old Dean Smith admitted burgling a private staff area at the Vaseys furniture store during business hours on October 2; fraudulently using a bank card which was taken during that crime; and stealing money from a gaming machine at the Walkabout bar on September 28 which they also damaged.
Nunn, O’Neil and Smith, who were living in the same city centre hostel at the time of the crime spree, admitted their respective offences and were sentenced today (MON).
O’Neil also admitted involvement in the burglary of a man’s Carlisle flat and theft of a laptop as he slept, on July 4. He was handed a 30-month jail term for that crime, and given a consecutive 27-week prison sentence for the other offences.
Nunn was jailed for three years plus a consecutive 21 weeks, while Smith’s 27-week sentence was suspended for two years. He was also ordered to complete unpaid work, rehabilitation and a “thinking skills” course.
Detective Inspector Dave Cooper said: “This group were responsible for a contemptuous crime wave against local, hardworking people who add value to the community. During the course of their spree they caused significant damage, disruption and loss. Their actions were reprehensible.
“The custodial sentences they have received rightly removes them from society and should serve as a warning to others who target the hard working business sector in the city.”
