A BURGLAR who targeted a Carlisle McDonald’s restaurant stole the staff's personal property, worth an estimated £5,000.

Liam Paul Fletcher, 42, was caught on CCTV as he brazenly walked away from the scene of his crime with a rucksack crammed with stolen goods, Carlisle Crown Court heard.

He was sentenced after he had earlier pleaded guilty to burgling the London Road restaurant on May 24, 2022. He also admitted an associated fraud, linked to a failed attempt to use stolen bank cards.

His co-defendant, 34-year-old Robert Fullard, who was him to the restaurant, admitted handling stolen goods. Fullard was jailed for 13 months after also admitting inflicting grievous bodily harm on a woman.

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Prosecutor Tim Evans described what happened.

He said the two defendants arrived at the restaurant at around 8.10pm in a blue Corsa car, initially driving into the “drive thru” but then reversing out and parking nearby.

As Fullard went to the counter, Fletcher walked through a door towards the restaurant toilet before then diverting towards the non-public area and upstairs and into the staff room.

 

“He systematically searched through the staff lockers,” said Mr Evans. Fletcher removed numerous items of value, including bank cards, phones. CCTV cameras then captured him walking away with a bulging rucksack and carrier bag.

They were crammed with stolen goods.

The haul goods included several iPhones belonging to staff, a pair of Nike trainers, £30 cash and several bank cards. He later attempted to use some of these to buy goods at the Esso Garage on Wigton Road, Carlisle.

But by that stage, staff had discovered the burglary and cancelled the cards. Fletcher’s criminal record features 72 previous offences. Of these, 17 were thefts and kindred offences.

There was also domestic burglaries in 2006 and 2022.

Ben Berkson, for Fletcher, said that since the offence the defendant had taken steps to address his offending behaviour and he was now clearly motivated to rehabilitate himself.

Currently living in supported accommodation in Ribbleton Lane, Preston, staff there considered him to be a “role model” for tenants. His tenancy there was dependent on not using alcohol.

Judge Nicholas Barker said the CCTV evidence showed that it was obvious Fletcher knew what he was looking for.

But in the time since the offending, the defendant had shown himself to have a “realistic” prospect of rehabilitation.

Referring to the defendant's current situation in supported housing, the judge said: “This represents in reality your last opportunity and if you don’t grasp it, those agencies will be unlikely to renew that invitation.”

Judge Barker imposed an 18-month community order with 25 rehabilitation activity days, telling Fletcher that he was fortunate and that any failure to keep his promise of reform would result in custody.

The goods that were stolen by the defendant were recovered when police found them in the car he was in with his co-defendant.