A CRIME-SPREE by cousins, buoyed by their success stealing relatively high value items, mainly vacuum cleaners, from stores round the region, culminated in a ram-raid on a shop.

Louis Johnson and Michael Pemberton brazenly grabbed the cleaners, mainly Shark-make devices, plus tv sets, cut off security tags and fled stores with them, often using fire exits to evade security personnel.

The two-man crimewave, assisted by a female getaway driver waiting outside the targeted premises in a getaway Volkswagen Polo, resulted in items totalling £2,984 being taken from Asda, Tesco and Sainsbury’s branches in Sunderland, South and North Tyneside, between March 5 and 8.

Richard Holland, prosecuting, told Newcastle Crown Court that Johnson was on bail at the time for stealing a vacuum cleaner and a tv set from Asda and Tesco stores in Stockton, in February.

Only at a store in Benton, North Tyneside, were they stopped by a suspicious security guard and had to hand back a stolen vacuum cleaner, but were allowed to go their way

Following the spate of thefts from stores the pair graduated to forcing their way into locked shop premises in Sunderland, overnight from March 8 to 9.

A roller shutter was forced at the Harbour View Service Station, in Roker, to give the pair access to a store room, but it appeared the culprits were unable to enter the locked shop area.

Mr Holland said examination of cctv showed the VW Polo entering the forecourt and shortly afterwards the pair were seen inside the premises on internal cameras, before they ran out when the alarm activated.

They moved on to the One Stop shop in Blind Lane, Silksworth, Sunderland, using the car to ram the front of the premises.

Mr Holland said it destroyed the roller and much of the frontage of the shop on impact, leaving stock strewn about the shop.

The Polo, bearing false registration plates, was later found abandoned on grass near Sunderland Civic Centre and fingerprints for both defendants were recovered from the damaged vehicle.

Both were arrested on foot in streets in the vicinity and phone messaging from Pemberton to his cousin revealed some planning for the ram raid.

Although they gave “no comment” replies to police questioning at the time, Johnson, 30, of Marley Crescent, and his 37-year-old cousin, of Edward Burdis Street, both Sunderland, each subsequently admitted charges of conspiracy to steal and conspiracy to burgle.

Johnson also admitted two counts of theft, plus obstructing police by giving his brother’s name upon arrest.

Shada Mellor, for Johnson, said the former soldier turned to drink and drug-taking on leaving the Army to cope with PTSD.

She said despite seeking help, prior to the period of the offences, he lapsed back into drink and drug-taking, committing the crimes to pay for both at a time he was ‘sofa-surfing’.

Miss Mellor described the offending as “opportunistic, and grab and go,”, but after being successful, he repeated the crimes.

“They said they got away with it and so tried it again until they were stopped.”

She added that it will be the defendant’s first prison sentence, but a services charity has said they would welcome him back upon release.

Stuart Graham, for Pemberton, said he has sought help for his drug addiction, but has never previously received assistance.

He said he was under the influence at the time of the offences, for which he is, “utterly ashamed”, and wants to make a clean start upon release.

Imposing 28-month prison sentences on both, Recorder Ian Mullarkey said there appears to have been, “a significant degree of planning”, and, “a significant loss” to the targeted premises, given the type of offending.

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