Security guard jailed over raid

A security guard who let burglars into a Wolverhampton college to steal a safe and vending machines and cause damage worth more than £54,000 has been jailed.

Martin Collins phoned police and told them he had been overpowered, bundled into a van and dumped at the side of the road during the raid, Wolverhampton Crown Court heard.

But he pleaded guilty to burglary and perverting the course of justice after police found out he had given the men his key to the gates of City of Wolverhampton College’s Bilston campus in Wellington Road on June 23 last year.

The court heard that 24-year-old Collins, a casual worker at the college, owed £400 in drug money to the gang’s ring leader, who was named only as Hodgetts.

Mr Andrew Evans, prosecuting, said: “Significant damage was caused to the storage areas, and recording and CCTV equipment was destroyed. The burglars were professional, they brought vans with them, and they went straight for a safe containing £3,000.

“They also took electronic equipment, one piece of which was worth £17,000. In total the damage and the items stolen came to £54,115.”

He told the court Collins, of Birmingham New Road, Parkfields, made a 999 call just before 5am and said he did not know where he was, having been dumped at the side of the road. “A scenes of crime officer found no evidence of forced entry at the site itself and the defendant was reluctant to provide evidence,” he added.

After he was arrested Collins said Hodgetts had told him to let his gang into the site in order to repay his debt.

Mr Gareth Walters, defending, said: “When Hodgetts came to see him he saw an opportunity to get the debt written off but there is no suggestion he received any money.”

Judge Michael Challinor said: “You breached the trust placed in you by the college.”

Collins, who was sacked after the allegations came to light, was given two years for the burglary and nine months for perverting the course of justice to run concurrently.

City of Wolverhampton College spokeswoman Katie Swann said the most expensive item stolen was a vending machine.

She said: “We have improved our security in light of this incident.”