Bungling burglars caught fleeing crime in golf buggy
THREE bungling burglars made their escape in a stolen golf buggy after their own getaway car crashed, a court heard.
Michael Bellerby, David Francis and Alan Tams broke into Rothbury Wines to steal alcohol and cigarettes during a camping trip in the early hours of July 29 last year.
When they crashed and then ditched their Vauxhall Cavalier the drunken trio decided to steal another car to return home to Newcastle.
But the only vehicle they could find was an electric golf buggy they stumbled on while walking through Burgham Park Golf and Leisure Club, near Felton, Morpeth, Newcastle Crown Court was told.
They were arrested later that morning after residents in the village of Widdrington contacted the police after being woken by "strange noises" shortly after 5am.
Francis, 21, Tams, 20, and Bellerby, 23, all admitted burglary when they appeared at Newcastle Crown Court.
Francis, of Stocksfield Avenue, Fenham, and Bellerby, of Merton Road, Walker, both Newcastle, also admitted taking the buggy without consent.
Tams, living in a caravan at Hartford Bridge, Bedlington, admitted a charge of allowing himself to be carried in the stolen buggy.
Newcastle Crown Court heard that the trio broke into Rothbury Wines shortly after midnight.
Andrew Finlay, prosecuting, said the three were then spotted driving the stolen buggy in Widdrington at 5.15am – nearly five hours after the break-in – by village residents.
Police officers searching the area soon found the drunken burglars hiding in a concrete pipe in a children's play park in nearby Stobswood, said Mr Finlay.
Glen Gatland, defending Tams, said the night started out as a simple camping trip for the defendants.
"There is no suggestion that they went to the hinterland of Northumberland just to break into this wine shop," said Mr Gatland.
"They had drank a lot of alcohol, went to buy some more but found that the shop was closed.
"They decided to break in to steal it.
"They couldn't contact Dial-a-Drink in the early hours in Rothbury in the same way that they could in Newcastle."
Mr Gatland added: "They were clearly handicapped in taking the golf buggy – an electric vehicle capable of little more than walking speed – around the villages of Northumberland."
Tams and Francis were both given nine-month prison sentences, suspended for two years.
They were also ordered to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work and must complete an 18-month supervision order.
Bellerby, who is already serving a seven-year prison sentence for selling on firearms he stole in a burglary, was sentenced to 18 months concurrent.
Judge David Wood said: "You have pleaded guilty to a series of drunken, stupid offences."
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Thursday 17 May 2012
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