Two men broke into a city centre Greggs and assaulted police officers in their failed escape bid, a court has heard.
Neal Jackson, 42, of Arncliffe Road, Halewood and Isaiah Gregory, 38, of no fixed abode, appeared at Liverpool Crown Court on Monday after the pair burgled a city centre Greggs. Jackson previously pleaded guilty to burglary with intent to steal, going equipped to steal with a crowbar, and two counts of assaulting an emergency worker.
He was also charged with one count of burglary, for a further offence which took place in January this year at Holland and Barrett while he was released on bail. Gregory pleaded guilty to one count of burglary and one count of going equipped to steal with a de-tagging device.
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Peter Hussey, prosecuting, detailed that in the early hours of August 28 last year, the two men broke into the Greggs on Richmond Street, Liverpool, while the shop was empty. Access was gained through the rear of the premises, and they found their way into an office and pulled out a drawer in their search for goods.
Jackson, who was drunk, and Gregory, attempted to access a safe in the office but failed. A charity box in the office was also emptied, but the amount stolen could not be confirmed.
The pair left footprints on the floor, before leaving out of the rear exit, but were spotted by a security officer working in the Liverpool One area. However, he did not realise they had been committing a crime and no alarm at Greggs was set off by the thieves.
The two defendants then entered the Turtle Bay on Victoria Street, and were spotted by members of the public who described them as “unkempt” so notified police officers. PC Bragg and PC Norman found Jackson and Gregory and spoke to them, noticing they were acting obviously “evasive”, before they both ran from the officers.
A chase ensued as PC Bragg followed Jackson and he managed to get hold of his rucksack, however the defendant turned and punched him in the face, cutting his lip. Jackson continued to run, and in his attempt to flee, he collided with PC Norman.
Mr Hussey said Jackson “flattened her to the floor”, causing her to hit her head and left her momentarily dazed. At this point, members of the public intervened and detained Jackson, conducting a citizen's arrest before PC Bragg arrested him.
Gregory managed to escape the building but was captured on city centre CCTV and found around 20 minutes later, with the de-tagging device on him. Jackson was searched and found with a crowbar hidden in his clothing.
Both defendants were identified by CCTV in Greggs, and answered no comment when they were later interviewed by police. Mr Hussey detailed that on January 23 of this year, a security worker was securing the buildings in Liverpool One when he heard an alarm go off at the Holland and Barrett store, so called the police.
The security officer spotted Jackson leaving the scene and when officers arrived, told them which way he went and the burglar was caught quickly. Mr Hussey said: “He was obviously quite drunk according to the accounts given.
“Staff at the store discovered forced entry through the rear door, and quite a disturbance inside.” The office was searched and it was discovered that cash deposit books, cash amounting to around £300, and a bottle of aftershave had been taken.
Jackson was interviewed by police and admitted he had been drunk and had “made a bit of a mess” but could not remember exactly what he had done. He was kept in custody after this offence, as it placed him in breach of bail conditions imposed after the Greggs burglary, including that he was barred from going into Liverpool city centre.
Jackson has 27 previous convictions for 50 offences, including a number of commercial burglaries going back many years, battery, shoplifting, criminal damage, and driving matters. Gregory has 14 previous convictions for 30 offences, including commercial burglary, shoplifting, criminal damage, assaulting an emergency worker with intent to resist arrest, and robbery.
He was also subject to a community order at the time of committing these offences. Kenneth Heckle, defending Jackson, said his client recognises that he has issues with alcohol, and that a lot of his offending is tied to this.
He said: “When he has difficulties, alcohol is used as a coping mechanism and then all of his thinking skills go out of the window.” Mr Heckle detailed that Jackson has had a traumatic childhood which has given him long term mental health issues including anxiety, but said this does not excuse his behaviour.
He said Jackson has completed some courses in prison and is trying to use his time in custody usefully. Callum Ross, defending Gregory said: “This defendant wishes to make it clear through me that he accepts his involvement and does not seek to blame anyone else for his involvement, he knows he only has himself to blame.”
Mr Ross detailed the positive comments made by the probation service in relation to Gregory, and said that since these offences, he has completed a rail skills boot camp course and has gained employment. He said in the six months since the burglary, Gregory has committed no further offences and has made great progress in his life.
Jackson was sentenced to two years imprisonment. Gregory was given a 12 month prison sentence suspended for two years, and ordered to complete 10 rehabilitation days, plus 150 hours of unpaid work.
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