A drink-driving burglar who used a quad bike to smash his way into a Carlisle mobile phone shop this week has been handed an eight-month prison sentence.
Ashley Paul Queen, 37, was with an unidentified accomplice when the break-in occurred at the O2 store on Scotch Street, in the city centre, just before 5am yesterday.
CCTV captured the moment that the red quad bike was used to ram the front of the business, completely shattering the doors, Carlisle Magistrates’ Court heard today.
Damage of at least £1,000 was caused, said a prosecutor. Nothing was stolen.
The shop was entered twice before the culprits left the scene. Police were alerted by a member of the public who was opening another premises soon afterwards.
At around 6.30am, Queen and the quad bike were found by officers at an Esso garage on the city’s Wigton Road.
“He attempted to drive off but was blocked by a police vehicle,” said prosecutor George Shelley.
“He jumped off and attempted to flee on foot. He was chased, detained and arrested.”
Queen, of Dunmallet Rigg, Carlisle, failed a breath test which showed 48 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35mcg.
In court he admitted burglary with intent to steal having entered the phone shop as a trespasser; drink-driving; and driving while disqualified.
Queen committed the offence while on licence having been sent to prison for eight months last year following a previous break-in.
He had committed three non-dwelling burglaries during the past decade and was set to be recalled to custody following this week’s brush with the law.
From the dock, Queen said he was absolutely ashamed to be back in trouble and said that was due to an ongoing alcohol problem.
“I’m very, very sorry,” he told magistrates. “I didn’t purposefully go out to burgle anywhere. I’ve just been stupid on the motorbike. I didn’t even try to pinch anything.”
Imposing an immediate prison sentence, lead magistrate Christine Williams told the defendant: “We do take into account what we believe is genuine remorse and an understanding of where you have gone wrong.”
Queen must serve an 18-month driving ban when released from custody, and pass an extended retest before his licence is returned.
- Cumbria police said this morning that a 24-year-old woman from Carlisle arrested on suspicion of burglary has since been released under investigation and a 25-year-old man from Berwick-upon-Tweed, also arrested on suspicion of burglary, has been released on police bail.
