A judge has blasted a GMP investigation into a prolific shoplifter who repeatedly targeted an Asda supermarket. Michael Gormley, 31, was spotted time and time again by a security guard at the Harpurhey store entering through the main door, taking hundreds of pounds-worth of alcohol, and walking out via the fire escape.
The guard reported the thefts to GMP officers, and offered CCTV footage of some of the incidents, but despite this, he was bailed, which allowed him to commit further offences. Describing one time, the guard said Gormley, of Harpurhey, walked into the store ‘rubbing his hands together’.
It wasn’t until months later, following a 12-minute high speed chase which resulted in officers being forced to crash into the Citroen Picasso he was driving to stop him, that he was eventually caught.
