Young girl with men who stole from B&Q

Two thieves took a nine-year-old girl with them as they stole nearly £600 worth of power tools from a Black Country branch of B&Q.

Gary Lees, aged 34, and Julian Crowe, 39, admitted theft when they appeared before magistrates in West Bromwich yesterday. The pair, both of Tack Farm Road, Wordsley, Stourbridge, were arrested after being detained by security guards at 7.20pm on Thursday after attempting to make off with the goods from the store in Axletree Way, Wednesbury.

Lees has now been jailed after also admitting being in breach of suspended sentences for two separate theft offences, while Crowe has been warned he may face a prison term when he is sentenced later this month.

Miss Maxine Jarrousse, prosecuting, said Lees entered the store with the girl and selected power tools and put them in the trolley.

He pushed it into the garden centre area and removed them from their packaging before being joined by Crowe.

She said Crowe started concealing the tools worth £580 in his jacket and tried to leave without paying.

Police found a jigsaw, drill, manuals and battery packs concealed in Crowe's clothing. Lees was found with the base of a jigsaw in his clothing and wire cutters.

Miss Jarrousse said: "Mr Crowe gave full and frank admissions to the police in interview and said he stole the tools to sell on to fuel his £50-a-day drug habit.

"Mr Lees said they were to be sold on to help pay his rent arrears but also admitted having a £50-a-day drug habit." Magistrates ordered Lees to serve a total of 20 weeks in prison.

Crowe was bailed and will be sentenced on October 27.