A Carlisle man who burgled a city centre mobile phone store and was caught after cutting himself and leaving a blood trail at the crime scene has been handed a suspended prison sentence.
Mark Young, 24, was one of three males who approached the EE shop in Scotch Street at around 1.15am on Saturday, June 4.
One male smashed a front window and made a failed bid to snatch Samsung Galaxy devices from a display.
“This male, the Crown say, is the male in court today,” prosecutor Pam Ward told city magistrates as Young listened from the court dock.
Young had cut himself, leaving a trail of blood at the scene. A sample was retrieved by police, tested and was linked to the defendant, who had a very long record for dishonesty including a dozen burglaries in around the last decade alone.
Less than four weeks after targeting the EE store, Young had entered the Boots store on English Street at 2.45pm with another male and snatched sunglasses valued at £350. CCTV showed him taking several pairs out of the store without paying.
A still images of the culprit was circulated and Young was identified.
In court today, Young admitted burglary, theft and breaching a court order previously imposed for disqualified driving.
Ant Wilson, defending, confirmed nothing was actually stolen during the EE store break-in. Of the Boots theft, Mr Wilson called the sunglasses crime a spur of the moment thing with a view to selling them on for drugs.. “He has been struggling with drug addiction for quite some time,” added the lawyer.
After asking a probation order to speak to Young and assess whether there was a viable alternative to custody, magistrates suspended a 34-week jail term for a year. Young must complete rehabilitation and supervision during the next 12 months, and pay £100 compensation to EE and £350 compensation to Boots.
