JAILED: Serial thief who went on £10k Stafford crime spree

Shane Gallagher, aged 28, went on a three week stealing spree targetting homes and garages in Stone and Stafford.

At Stafford Crown Court, Gallagher was given one year and eight months for his crimes while his mother and fellow serial offender, Alison Hollaran, was also handed a six-month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months, for attempting to obstruct police.

Hollaran, 51, of Sefton Road, Stoke-on-Trent, was also sentenced to 100 hours community service. Both had pleaded guilty.

The court heard how Gallagher of Chatsworth Road, Stoke-on-Trent, had admitted stealing motor vehicles, a garden statue and military memorabilia from a shed between April 26 and May 15.

He also admitted possession of cannabis following his arrest on January on May 18 as part of Staffordshire Police's ongoing Operation Impact to tackle burglary, theft and robbery.

Prosecutor Miss Liz Power said: "When police went to the defendant's address they saw him leaving the upstairs window.

"They were unable to apprehend him but they did seize a vehicle and various other items were recovered.

"It was not until July he was finally arrested after voluntarily handing himself into prison."

Miss Power said one of the victims had had about £500 worth of goods stolen from his garage including military memorabilia.

Mrs Laura Cully, defending Gallagher who had been remanded in custody since his arrest, said: "Although there were a large volume of thefts, it seems to be a short spree over a three week period.

"At the time his was struggling with addiction to cannabis and monkey dust.

"He wishes to remain free of those so he gain employment and his own accommodation."

Mr Anis Ali, defending Hollaran, who also had a string of convictions dating back to 1986, said his client was the main carer for her grandchild who required regular hospital treatment.

Recorder Adrian Jack gave Gallagher 10 months in prison for theft, one month for one for handling stolen goods and nine months for breaching a previous suspended sentence, all to run consecutively.

Mr Jack, sentencing mother-of-five Hollaran, said: "You have a large list of previous convictions and this case of deliberately misleading police officers is a serious one.

"I have had particular regard for the fact you are a vital person when it comes to looking after your grandchild who is suffering from an extremely serious illness.

"You are the only family with a driving licence and car so I will suspend the prison sentence."