Ex-soldier stole £2,700 of goods by targeting…

Ex-soldier stole £2,700 of goods by targeting Ashington shops at least 20 times in a month

An ex-soldier made off with more than £2,700-worth of goods after targeting three shops at least 20 times in a month.

David Muckle helped himself to the haul of items, mainly booze and Shark hoovers, from two Co-op branches and an Asda, all in Ashington, sometimes stealing from the same store numerous times in one day. A court heard that, on one occasion, the 31-year-old also stole a TV, wall bracket and king-sized duvet from a room in a Premier Inn, also in the Northumberland town.

Now, the serial crook, who was on a community order for shoplifting at the time, has been given a final chance to keep his freedom after he pleaded guilty to 19 counts of shop theft at South East Northumberland Magistrates' Court. Instead, he was handed a 16-week prison sentence, suspended for 18 months.

Prosecutor, Glenda Beck, said the offences were committed in January and February this year, with the first happening at the Premier Inn on January 18. Ms Beck continued: "The defendant was responsible for stealing a TV, an aerial, a wall bracket and a king-sized duvet, valued at £400.

"He was staying in room 138 and staff discovered the missing items when they entered to clean. It's not known what time the defendant checked out of the hotel. As a result, the Premier Inn suffered a financial loss as the property was not recovered."

The court heard that Muckle went on to target Asda, in Ashington, on seven occasions, making off with a six Shark hoovers, worth a total of £1,200, and two hairdryers, worth £100. The crook then stole from the Co-op, on Newbiggin Road, at least 11 times, including on multiple occasions in one day. In total, he took £1,022.95-worth of booze, meat and washing detergent.

Finally, Muckle entered the Co-op on Milburn Road, on February 15 and 28 and stole booze, valued at more than £200.

The court was told that Muckle was eventually detained in the Co-op on Newbiggin Road. However, he gave a no comment interview and failed to show for his first appearance in the dock earlier this month, prompting a warrant to be issued for his arrest.

Jonathan Cousins, defending, said Muckle had struggled since he came out of the Army and had become homeless at the start of year after his relationship ended. Mr Cousins added: "He expresses genuine remorse to the stores and people involved. He knows what he was doing was wrong but he was trying to survive with the difficulties he faced.

"He does want help." Mr Cousins said Muckle, of Queen Street, Ashington, also admitted that he sold some of the goods to pay for his cocaine habit.

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