Young man jailed for string of Black Country burglaries after going 'off the rails'

Royston Hallard struck five times in six months stealing property worth over £2,000 while causing thousands of pounds worth of damage, a judge heard.

The 20-year-old tearaway continued to offend after receiving a community punishment and a suspended sentence for the first two crimes committed on January 27 and April 12 at premises in Wednesfield and Bradley, Wolverhampton Crown Court was told.

Hallard then smashed his way Landywood Concrete Products in Neachells Lane, Wednesfield overnight on April 26 whilst on bail for the second offence, cutting the phone lines but was not able to disable the CCTV before it had taken a picture of him, revealed Mr Nicholas Cartwright, prosecuting.

The defendant stole £50 cash from a coffee machine and took two safes containing commercially sensitive records of the firm but no more money, the court heard.

Overnight on July 11 he broke into a business in Lower Gornal and left his finger prints at the scene while stealing a £2,000 computer, continued Mr Cartwright. Nine days later Hallard was captured on CCTV unsuccessfully attempting to remove a safe from Greggs Bakery in Wednesbury. Twenty four hours after that he head butted a girlfriend in the face as they walked near New Cross Hospital causing cuts above the eye that required seven stitches, it was said. He was finally tracked down and arrested for the last three break ins and the assault on October 23.

Mr Jon Roe, defending, said Hallard had gone 'off the rails' after his mother moved to live with her partner in December 2013. "He was thrown in at the deep end of adult life, started to sofa surf and ended up mixing with the wrong crowd. This led to offending which he now bitterly regrets."

Hallard of no fixed address admitted three burglaries and assault and was given a total of two and a half years detention in a Young Offenders Institution together with a five year restraining order banning him from any contact with the former girlfriend he attacked.

Judge Robin Onions commented: "The last year was a troubled time for you but that is no reason why companies and other people should have to pay for your unhappiness."