CORONAVIRUS - Man broke into locked-down department store

Picture: North Yorkshire Police

A man who broke into a North Yorkshire department store while it was closed due to the coronavirus lockdown has been sent  to jail.

Geoffrey Stuart Dobson had only been released from prison in Hull the day before.

North Yorkshire Police officers recognised him on CCTV and arrested him less than 24 hours after he burgled the shop in Northallerton high street.

At about 3.15pm on Wednesday 27 May 2020, Dobson broke into Barkers, which was closed and locked

He took items of clothing and cycled away – before returning a few minutes later and removing further items.

In total, more than £2,500 worth of stock was stolen from the store, including Armani, Calvin Klein, Ralph Lauren and Hugo Boss shirts, t-shirts, shorts, hoodies and jackets.

Clear CCTV footage captured a suspect committing the offence, and his face was recognised immediately by local police officers.

Dobson, 43, from Northallerton, was arrested the following afternoon and charged with burglary. 

He appeared at York Magistrates Court on Friday 29 May, where he pleaded guilty.

Dobson was jailed for 20 weeks. Magistrates told him the offence was so serious because of his record of previous offending, and because it was committed immediately after being placed on post-sentence supervision.

He was also ordered to pay a £128 victim surcharge.

SHARE THIS STORY:

Get our app, and stay up to date!