A STUDENT stole fantasy war game items from a Carlisle shop along with a partner-in-crime.

Joshua Jackson, 22, teamed up with an accomplice on eight separate dates in late summer last year to snatch products — including figurines — from the city centre Warhammer premises at Earls Lane, off Lowther Street,

Warhammer is a mediaeval themed tabletop war game feature which uses miniature figures.

Prosecutor Peter Bardsley told Carlisle’s Rickergate magistrates’ court the case facts were “fairly straightforward”.

“The defendant (Jackson) and (the second man) go into the Warhammer shop in Carlisle on eight occasions between the end of July and September, and take items between the two of them.”

The items had been valued at several thousand pounds. “They are caught on CCTV and later identified,” said Mr Bardsley.

The pair struck at the shop four times in one week alone in late August. More than £1,000 worth of property was said to have been pinched on a single day, in early September.

When interviewed, Jackson admitted the thefts but believed he had taken items worth only around £500.

That was something he maintained, said defence solicitor Duncan Campbell during Jackson’s sentencing hearing. He had earlier admitted eight theft charges.

Mr Campbell said a very detailed and helpful report had been prepared by a probation officer to assist magistrates with their sentencing exercise.

Jackson, of Brunton Avenue, Carlisle, suffered from mental health issues.

“He was very much led on in becoming involved in this offending” said the solicitor. “That is not to say that excuses it in any way. It is an explanation. He is not prone to conduct himself in this way nor this fashion at all.”

The financial figure for the items stolen was a “guesstimate”, suggested Mr Campbell.

Magistrates imposed an eight-week prison term which was suspended for 12 months. Jackson must also completed up to 15 days of rehabilitation activity requirement work with the probation service, and pay £1,286.25.

*His co-accused, 24-year-old biomedical sciences undergraduate Jamie Lane, of Greystone Road, Carlisle, also received a suspended prison sentence and compensation order when he was punished earlier this year.