A man has been jailed for five months after stealing from businesses in Swindon during a week-long crime spree.
Darren Anthony May, 33, of Portsmouth, had already been handed a suspended prison sentence for one burglary when he committed another the following day after his court appearance.
The first incident happened at the Carphone Warehouse, in Wootton Bassett Road, Swindon, in the early hours of 28 August 2018.
We were called at 1.50am by the alarm company who said two suspects had been seen to enter the shop.
Officers arrived at the scene and found the front door had been smashed and could hear voices from inside, so promptly contained the building before entering and carrying out a search.
Two men were found barricaded inside the stock cupboard and were arrested.
A rucksack containing multiple sim cards and mobile phones was seized.
May, along with co-defendant Lee Sparks, 37, of Cricklade Road, Swindon, appeared at Swindon Magistrates Court on 29 August 2018 and they both pleaded guilty to burglary.
They were both handed an eight-week prison sentence suspended for 18 months and were released from court.
However, less than 24 hours later police were called to Rowlands Pharmacy, in Dunwich Drive, Toothill at around 1.15am on Thursday 30 August 2018.
An alarm had been activated and, on arrival the officers found the front door had been smashed and items inside had been disturbed.
Nobody was in the building but officers flooded the area, carrying out a thorough search and found May on a bike nearby.
He was recognised by officers as they had dealt with him for the previous incident and was arrested on suspicion of burglary. He was later released under investigation.
A detailed investigation followed, which included forensic work, and May was once again arrested earlier this month and charged with attempted burglary, burglary and a theft.
These relate to an attempted break-in at the same Carphone Warehouse shop overnight between 23 and 24 August 2018, a theft from the Co-op in Rodburne Road, Swindon, on 27 August 2018 and the pharmacy burglary on 30 August 2018.
May appeared at Swindon Magistrates Court on Friday 9 November 2018 and pleaded guilty to all three counts.
He was given a new prison sentence of 12 weeks, ordered to serve the previous suspended sentence of eight weeks, so will be imprisoned for a total of 20 weeks.
Inspector Carly Nesbitt, from Swindon Community Policing Team, said: “This is a fantastic result thanks to a lot of hard work by our local officers and investigators who did an exemplary job – brilliant teamwork.
“I have no doubt that May is a prolific offender who would have continued to offend if he was given the opportunity.
“Hopefully this sentence will send a message to him that we will not tolerate these types of crimes which target local businesses and we will be keeping a close eye on him when he is released from prison.”
