Darlington burglar targeted homes and businesses across town

Elroy McArthur crept into an elderly woman’s home before she kicked him out after he tried to persuade her he was a volunteer.

The 44-year-old serial offender also stole from four businesses across Darlington, including a pub, a working men’s club, a hairdressers, and an upholstery firm.

Teesside Crown Court heard how McArthur forced his way into Indulgence hair salon via a fire exit and stole the till containing £35 in the early hours of June 2 last year.

Elroy McArthur. Picture: DURHAM CONSTABULARY

Laura Miller, prosecuting, said the defendant targeted the pensioner’s home a week later when pretended he had come to collect the rubbish before being given short shrift from the woman.

Read more: Sick Darlington man put partner's head down loo after his own affair was exposed

In a victim impact statement, the pensioner said she doesn’t feel affected by the incident as she is not a nervous person but she felt silly for not locking the front door.

Ms Miller said McArthur then turned his nefarious attention to the Gate bar in Darlington town centre when he entered as a trespasser and stole £330 from a till on June 9.

Two days later the defendant entered Cockerton Workingmen’s Club and went upstairs to a function room where he stole a laptop.

On June 14, McArthur entered the Turk’s Head in Darlington through an unsecure main entrance door. At the time it was under renovation so was not open to the public.

Ms Miller added there were occupants inside the pub, the owner and her young son, and the defendant stole a purse containing £212. The victim went to get her purse to get her son some money for an ice cream and noticed her purse was missing and checked the CCTV.

The Turks Head in Darlington when it was closed for renovation. Picture: GOOGLE

In her victim statement, she said: “I am someone who would give anyone in need anything. I am shocked to think that someone would enter our new pub and crept around my 12 years old son. I have had to cancel cards, wait for new ones etc. I am at a financial loss due to this man’s greed.”

Read more: Darlington man launched sexual attack on mum while her children were upstairs

McArthur, of Alfred Street, Darlington, admitted all of the offences and asked for a further burglary of an upholstery business to be taken into account.

The court heard how he broke into BJ Upholstery in Clark’s yard where he stole £10 in cash, a Biba handbag, a flower print purse, and a Samsung phone.

Jon Harley, in mitigation, said McArthur was hoping to take advantage of the time he will spend in custody to turn his life around and address his drug addiction.

He said: “He didn’t enter the house knowing that there was someone elderly within there. When he saw the elderly occupant he made a frankly ludicrous excuse.

“He is a big man and if he wanted to take things he could have taken advantage of (the elderly lady’s) vulnerability and her age. He has apologised to her in a letter.”

Judge Christopher Smith jailed the defendant for four and half years for all of the offences.

He added: “Mr Harley tells me you want to change, that you want to break out from a life of crime. I only hope you take advantage of the facilities in prison.

“Only you can stop the offending. There is help out there but it depends on your level of motivation.”

Keep up to date with all the latest news on our website, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

You can also follow our dedicated Darlington Facebook page for all the latest in the area by clicking here.

For all the top news updates from right across the region straight to your inbox, sign up to our newsletter here.

Have you got a story for us? Contact our newsdesk on newsdesk@nne.co.uk or contact 01325 505054