Bungling bin-dipper leaves gloves behind in Stoke-on-Trent pub …

Former Grenadier Guard Christopher Flannagan burgled a popular pub. The 43-year-old caused £75 worth of damage to two doors when he burgled the Furlong, in Tunstall[1], at 4am on August 10 last year.

He made off empty-handed – but left a pair of gloves which linked him to the crime. Now Flannagan has been handed a 12-month conditional discharge at North Staffordshire Justice Centre[2].

Prosecutor Lee Stone said: “CCTV cameras picked up a man in a secure yard at the rear of the pub. He was wearing gloves.

READ: School-run mum’s horror as OAP pulls down pants and performs sex act[3]

“A break-in was discovered by staff the next morning. Nothing was stolen. However an external storage unit had been broken into. The lock was forced.

“An upstairs window to the pub had been opened and no damage had been caused. There were signs somebody had entered through the window. The damage to two doors was £75. Nothing was taken.

“But in the yard, the licensee discovered a pair of yellow gloves. They were passed on to the police and tested and the DNA came back as the defendant’s.”

Flannagan, care of Barnett Grove, Chell[4], pleaded guilty to burglary with intent to steal.

Mike Kimberley, mitigating, said Flannagan had served as a Grenadier Guard for six years. He later worked as an HGV driver for Eddie Stobart but was laid off in January last year. He is now a full-time carer to relatives.

Mr Kimberley added: “He is a proud man. He was out of work. As an act of desperation he went to look through some bins. There was no degree of planning. He said at that point in his life he was a mess.”

Magistrates ordered Flannagan to pay £75 compensation to the pub and a £26 surcharge.

COURT AND CRIME NEWSLETTER: Sign up for email alerts direct to your inbox[5]

Van ‘reversed at speed’ into petrol pump causing £30k worth of damage[6]

Inside abandoned Stoke-on-Trent pub taken over by vandals[7]

Shocking hit-and-run crash as Land Rover-driving ‘idiot’ reverses into car[8]

Criminal drug addicts and alcoholics to get more support as new service launched[9]

Blundering banned driver pulled over – with £15k of coke in van[10]

References

  1. ^ Tunstall (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
  2. ^ North Staffordshire Justice Centre (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
  3. ^ School-run mum’s horror as OAP pulls down pants and performs sex act (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
  4. ^ Chell (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
  5. ^ COURT AND CRIME NEWSLETTER: Sign up for email alerts direct to your inbox (data.reachplc.com)
  6. ^ Van ‘reversed at speed’ into petrol pump causing £30k worth of damage (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
  7. ^ Inside abandoned Stoke-on-Trent pub taken over by vandals (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
  8. ^ Shocking hit-and-run crash as Land Rover-driving ‘idiot’ reverses into car (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
  9. ^ Criminal drug addicts and alcoholics to get more support as new service launched (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
  10. ^ Blundering banned driver pulled over – with £15k of coke in van (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)