Phone shop raider jailed
Raymond Mercer, 36, of Clitheroes Lane, Freckleton, admitted twice burgling a Lytham mobile phone shop in December – in which £10,000 of stock was stolen – and burglaries at three homes while on bail over the shop break-in.
He broke into the home of one victim in Ribbleton, Preston, on New Year’s Eve 2013, while he was out and stole his designer clothing.
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Hide AdIn another break-in, he stole cash from a man who had been saving £20 notes to repair his van.
Mercer, who was jailed for 63 months, had three offences taken into consideration relating to homes in Fulwood and Longridge.
Co-defendant Lee Porter, 31, of Plungington Road, Preston, was sentenced to 54 weeks for handling stolen goods from the shop, being found on enclosed premises and breaching a suspended sentence.
Judge Heather Lloyd had to tell the pair off for talking to each other in the dock.
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Hide AdLisa Worsley, prosecuting, said the door to the mobile phone shop in Lytham was kicked in on December 8.
The following morning the same men entered again, filling more bags. Two passers-by had seen them.
She added: “He was out between 7.30 and 4am. He returned home to find his bathroom window smashed and, on looking around, he found numerous items missing.
“Designer clothing, a watch, a games console and a passport had been stolen together with a Bush TV.”
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Hide AdShe described how the Ribbleton victim, returned home to find his ground floor window smashed.
Burglars had taken £1,000 in £20 notes he was saving for his van, loose change and a gold chain and earrings.
Nine sovereign coins, valued at hundreds of pounds, had been stolen from a bedside cabinet.
Defending Mercer, Tom Lord said: “He is frank, he knows he is going to prison.
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Hide Ad“What is positive is he has got to grips with his drug use while in prison.”
He said the facts the occupants were not in was “significant”.
Porter’s defence lawyer said he had committed the offences after his relationship broke down with his partner and he lost his father, but said his partner, who is now pregnant, was in court supporting him.