A man has been jailed after admitting targeting Workington stores earlier this week.
Samuel Wallace, 35, of Moss Bay Road, Workington, appeared at Workington Magistrates’ Court today, October 1, where he admitted burglary and shop theft.
Wallace entered Tesco in Workington at around 11pm on Monday, September 29.
He went behind the cigarette counter with a screwdriver and tried to open the cigarette counter.
After failing, he turned his attention to the till, grabbing a handful of notes and a large amount of 50p coins, before holding up the screwdriver and telling the shop assistant to get out of his way.
Wallace was arrested near the shop shortly afterwards.
He was also charged with a theft from shop offence committed at the same store a couple of days earlier.
On September 27, Wallace entered the store and filled up a bag with alcohol worth £580 before leaving without paying.
Wallace was jailed at his first court appearance for these offences.
He was sentenced to 12 months.
A Cumbria police spokesman said: “Wallace’s swift arrest, charge and sentencing demonstrates how seriously such offences, targeting our local economy, are taken by the police and the courts.
“We will continue to work with local businesses to ensure that those who attempt to prey on the local economy and arrested, brought before a court and held accountable for their actions.”
