A drunk caused more than £20,000 worth of damage at Selfridges after trying to smash into a Louis Vuitton display with an axe. Mark Mills, 42, used the fearsome weapon to try and break into a display window for the high end brand at the city centre store.
But the bungling would-be thief left empty handed and was caught by police shortly after. Mills had hatched the plan to try and break in to the popular store and steal expensive handbags and shoes to fund his drink problem.
At the time he was binging on up to nine litres of cider a day. A judge has now released him from prison after being told that Mills has vowed to tackle his alcoholism.
Manchester Crown Court heard that Mills and another unknown man were seen attempting to smash a window at the store at about 3.30am on March 13. They were trying to force their way into the Louis Vuitton display which looks onto New Cathedral Street.
Police arrived soon after and witnessed Mills wielding the axe. They also saw him discard an item which was found to be a large kitchen knife, prosecutor Simon Barrett said.
The pair had managed to create a hole in the window, and the knife had been used to make it larger so they could reach through it. During the break in two pairs of trainers worth £875 each were damaged and were no longer suitable to be sold.
The damage to the window was valued at more than £20,000. After being arrested, Mills told police that he'd found the axe 'at the back of a canal'.
Defending, Thomas McKail said Mills had suffered from alcoholism since his 20s, after having his first drink aged 13. He has previously turned to the bottle at times of low mood and emotional problems. After periods of abstinence he started drinking again after the recent passing of his grandmother, Mr McKail said.
The barrister appealed for Mills to be spared from spending more time in jail, after being remanded in custody since the incident. Mills has previously been able to tackle his drink problem and is motivated to try again, he said.
Sentencing, Judge Timothy Smith said: "The loss to Selfridges, even for a store of that size and profitability, was significant." But he said the scheme was 'almost bound to fail'.
After saying he was satisfied that Mills is motivated to change, the judge sentenced him to 14 months in prison, suspended for two years. He was also ordered to carry out a six month alcohol treatment program, 175 hours of unpaid work and 20 rehabilitation activity requirement days.
Mills, of Kirkwood Drive, Collyhurst, pleaded guilty to burglary and two counts of possessing bladed articles.
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