A burglar who broke into a city centre strip club and stole more than £1,000-worth of booze has been locked-up.
Martin Hart forced his way into Blue Velvet, on Dean Street, in Newcastle, via a fire exit door, before jumping over the bar and putting the alcohol in a backpack. CCTV captured the 37-year-old then making off from the premises but he was identified by police and arrested three days later on December 5.
The crook, formerly of Walker but now of no fixed abode, was already awaiting sentence for burgling the Old George Pub, also in Newcastle City Centre, when he took £210-worth of spirits, and for stealing 45 nasal sprays, worth more than £145, from a shop in Byker. He appeared at Newcastle Magistrates’ Court on December 6 and was remanded in custody to next appear at the same court for sentence for the two non-dwelling burglaries and the shop theft on December 19.
Hart has now spent Christmas behind bars after he was jailed for a total of eight months at that hearing. He must also pay £28 compensation.
The court heard that Hart first burgled the Old George on November 1 last year and made-off with 14 bottles of spirits, worth £210. He then stole vodka and champagne, worth £1,050 from Blue Velvet on December 2.
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The following day, Hart took the nasal sprays from Savers, in Byker. Speaking in relation to the Blue Velvet burglary, Inspector Karen Madge, of Northumbria Police, said at the time: “Following this report coming in, we worked quickly to trace Hart as the culprit and he was arrested just a few days later.
“We were then able to get him charged and put before the courts where he has admitted this offence. Through proactive Operation Spear, officers operate both in plain clothes and uniform to prevent, detect and deter crime.
“The team actively seeks every possible opportunity to effectively identify suspects and bring them to justice. Our hope is that this case shows how seriously we take businesses in our city being targeted and the value of having working CCTV installed as a form of security if you are able to do so.”
If you see something suspicious in your community, send Northumbria Police a direct message on social media, use the live chat function on the website or use the report forms, also on the website.
For those unable to make contact via those way, call 101. In an emergency, or if a crime is taking place, always ring 999.