Two men have been jailed for stealing hundreds of pounds-worth of goods during a shoplifting spree at shops in Carlisle and Penrith.
Gary James Hetherington and Kieron Lowe, both 43, teamed up to snatch items from three shops over the course of several weeks.
The pair first struck at a city B&M outlet on August 8, stealing toys valued at £215.
On August 30 the partners-in-crime, both of Baird Road in Carlisle, visited a city Aldi store on Petteril Bank Road and pinched steaks picked at £47.92.
And five days later they headed south to Sainsbury’s in Penrith were they stole meat and alcohol with a total value of just under £500.
Carlisle Magistrates’ Court heard all three offences were captured on CCTV with toys being recovered by staff from the thieves on the first date.
Hetherington had gone solo in making three separate trips to the Spar shop on Petteril Bank Road on July 15, stealing alcohol and detergent worth a total of £43.23; and also a bottle of wine from Aldi on August 31.
He admitted five thefts and Lowe pleaded guilty to four counts of shoplifting having also stolen from the Blackwell Road Co-op in Carlisle on September 3.
Magistrates heard Hetherington committed his crimes in breach of a previously-imposed court order, selling the loot in order to pay off an old drug debt.
He was jailed for a total of 20 weeks and Lowe was given a 16-week jail term.
Magistrates concluded in the case of each man that only an immediate custodial sentence was appropriate
