Carlisle man ordered by thugs to burgle Opera Bingo to repay drug debt

A Carlisle man who burgled a city bingo hall after he was Tasered by violent thugs pursuing an unpaid drugs debt has been jailed.

Ryan Ferguson, 27, went to Opera Bingo at Denton Street on August 18. While an employee at the cash desk was distracted, Ferguson leaned over and snatched £1,120 from a till. Staff attempted to stop him but he fled the premises and left the area on a dark coloured push bike.

However, he was detained by police within half an hour, Carlisle magistrates’ court was told today. The money was never recovered.

Ferguson, of Randall Street, pleaded guilty to burglary. He had been given a short jail term two days after that offence for two shoplifting crimes, and in late September was handed a longer custodial term — along with his mother — after the pair took part in an attack on a couple who had been attacked with weapons.

His solicitor, Mark Shepherd, outlined the dramatic background to the burglary. Drug-taking Ferguson, he said, had racked up a large drug debt to a dealer “who was not prepared to wait” for the arrears to be paid.

“Liverpudlians” had forced entry to Ferguson’s mum’s address, Tasering him in the back and threatening her with a machete. They had then given him precise instructions about carrying out the offence and ordered him to return immediately.

“He was arrested just 30 minutes later and all the money had gone,” said Mr Shepherd, who described pressure being exerted on Ferguson. “He handed money over and the men left. He has never heard from them since. He was told to keep his mouth shut. He anticipates the debt is now seen as cleared.”

District Judge John Temperley gave Ferguson an immediate 20-week jail sentence, which was added, consecutively, to the crown court sentence he is currently still serving.