Shropshire Star

Jailed: Criminal who stole over £7,000 from a Greggs bakery

A career criminal who broke into a bakery and stole a safe containing thousands of pounds in cash has been jailed for two years.

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Glenn Cleaver broke into Greggs in High Street, Bridgnorth, on August 2.

Shrewsbury Crown Court heard yesterday that the 53-year-old, who had been involved in a life of crime for 38 years, had been caught on CCTV in the early hours of the morning breaking into the building with two other men, who have not been caught, and was filmed carrying the heavy safe which contained the day's takings of £7,367.

The bakery broken into

Mr Gary Cook, prosecuting, said that blood found at the scene along with a footprint tied Cleaver to the crime. "There is an alleyway and a metal door and this was forced," he said. "At about 1.45am on August 2 2015 offenders spent some time in the baker's attempting to remove a safe with the day's takings in it.

"The burglary was discovered the following morning by a delivery driver.

"DNA and a footprint matched to the defendant. CCTV recovered showed three males going into the alleyway and later they were seen struggling with a heavy object. The safe and contents have not been recovered."

Mr Paul Smith, for Cleaver, of Russells Hall Road, Dudley, said that the defendant, who admitted his role in the break-in, had seen the error of his ways and said "he has to go straight. He cannot keep going like this".

He added that Cleaver had not benefited from the crime.

Judge Robin Onions, sentencing Cleaver, said: "This was a significant crime.

"There was deliberate targeting. There must have been a degree of planning.

"You would have needed a vehicle of some size to take away the safe.

"You must have been equipped and you were the member of a group or gang. You have a very full criminal record stretching back 38 years. There are 26 previous convictions for burglary.

"You went into this with your eyes open. You must have been there for some time to gain entry and to remove the safe.

"You say you got nothing out of this crime. Was it worth it?

"You need to choose your friends and your company a little better than you do at the moment."

Cleaver was sentenced to two years' imprisonment and ordered to pay a £900 criminal court charge.

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