Man jailed for burglary, shoplifitng and assault in Bedworth

He targeted the same shop five times

Author: Jon BurkePublished 12th Dec 2023

A man's been jailed for various crimes he committed in Bedworth.

Mana Gill, 28 of no fixed address, has been found guilty of five counts of theft from a shop, two counts of burglary and two counts of assault by beating.

Gill has also been found guilty of one count of attempted theft from a shop.

He has been sentenced to 14 months imprisonment, as well as being required to pay a £228 victims’ surcharge.

On 25 August, Gill filled a basket at a shop on Goodyers End Lane in Bedworth with £115.20 worth of confectionary and walked out without attempting to pay.

This would be the first of five thefts from this particular store.

Three days later, Gill returned and filled another basket with items and once again left without paying.

On 2 September, he helped himself to three bottles of alcohol worth £60. Gill returned again on the 7 September to pilfer another three bottles worth £54.50.

He then waited a few weeks, before returning to the Bedworth store on 21 September to steal another two bottles of spirits, worth £40.

For a change, on the 22 September, Gill visited a different store on Mill Street in Bedworth and attempted to force the drawers open on the payment tills open to steal cash from them.

Members of staff prevented his success, and he left the store empty-handed.

Later that day, Gill tried to walk out of another store on Mill Street with 16 packets of painkillers (about £54 worth) and was again stopped by staff.

While being escorted from the store, he became aggressive and assaulted the two employees who were leading him by the arms, attempting to pull and push them around and causing bruises to both.

As he was doing so, Gill was recorded as trying to explain that he needed the money for drugs.

During September, Gill also committed two burglaries at the same house in Bedworth.

On 19 September, Gill visited an address on Newcome Road, leaving with £700 in his pocket which belonged to the owners.

On 21 September, he revisited the address and gained entry through the back door, intending to take more cash but on this occasion leaving empty handed.

Mana Gill was arrested on 22 September at the store on Mill Street, where he assaulted the members of staff.

He claims that the thefts were for the purpose of selling the items to support a drug habit, spending around £20 per day on heroin.

His sentence was delivered on 7 December at Warwick Crown Court.

PC Sembi said:“Mana Gill fed his heroin habit by stealing from shops and selling the goods on to other members of the community looking for cheaper products than those available legitimately.

“Purchasing stolen goods funds burglary and theft, and it also provides a means for people with addictions to illicit substances to hurt themselves and their communities further.

“Make sure that, if someone is offering you a deal that looks too good to be true, that it isn’t at the expense of someone else.

“Gill has 14 months to reconsider his life choices and to find support for his addiction.”

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