Jailed: Walsall shop burglar caught red handed with haul of stolen mobile phones
A burglar who broke into an electronic goods shop was caught red-handed fleeing with his loot.
Paul Andrew Nash, aged 43, blamed drink and drug addiction for his crimes, which included snatching 16 mobile phones and three electronic tablets from CEX, in Digbeth, Walsall town centre, on December 22, 2022.
Prosecuting barrister Emma Richards told Wolverhampton Crown Courtthat Nash was caught by police officers after being spotted climbing out of a first floor window at about 6.15am, wearing a face covering and carrying a large blue shopping bag.
Miss Richards said: "He jumped down to the ground and ran away leaving the bag behind. He was pursued by the officers who stopped him. The bag contained numerous mobile phones and the tablets. When they searched him, a lock knife was found in his pocket."
She said Nash was already on bail for robbery relating to a lockdown incident where a group kicked open the front door of a flat, in Green Lane, Birchills, and the occupant Barry Wickett was set upon, kicked while on the floor and had £380 cash stolen from him at about 1.30pm on June 19, 2020. The incident was captured on security cameras, but the footage was not played in court.
