A burglar who smashed his way into a Tesco petrol station and Subway shop in County Durham on the same night and made off with goods has been jailed.
Jason Kennedy was part of a group who broke into the two premises on December 23, last year, before stealing a till and safe which contained around £700. A hard-drive containing CCTV footage belonging to Subway was also taken during the incident.
Durham Crown Court heard Kennedy, 27, burgled the Subway store on Front Street, Framwellgate Moor, and the Tesco petrol station in nearby Dragonville in the early hours of the morning in the run up to Christmas.
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Peter Sabiston, prosecuting, said Kennedy and others - who were all wearing balaclavas - smashed into both premises using tools, including a crowbar and a sledgehammer, after being taken to the scene in a vehicle. He said: "A Tesco employee saw a car parked nearby and then heard a loud bang and glass shattering. They then saw a group around the car and saw a sledgehammer and a crowbar.
Mr Sabiston said that the door of the Subway shop was "kicked through" and a hard-drive containing the CCTV was taken, as well as other goods. He said that Kennedy's DNA was also found. The court heard Kennedy had previous convictions for burglary, including in 2020 when he received a 40 month prison sentence.
Mark Styles, defending, said Kennedy was "apologetic for getting involved". He said: "He was not the principle architect of this escapade. He seems to have been encouraged to join in by others. They were neither his tools or his vehicle, but he accepts he was involved and he had a prior record for this type of behaviour."
Judge James Adkin, the Recorder of Durham, said the burglaries had "the hallmarks of professional criminality" and said a safe and till were removed which contained around £700. Kennedy, of Seymour Street, Horden, was jailed for 39 months after pleading guilty to two counts of burglary.
