Raider in £40,000 Bloxwich factory theft jailed

A prolific thief who was involved in a £40,000 raid on a Bloxwich factory over three days – less than a month after he was freed from prison – has been locked up again.

Gavin Lancaster was part of a gang that ransacked and looted Parsons Engineering over 72 hours during the Easter holiday. It resulted in £18,000 of damage for the Leamore Lane firm. The 25-year-old was twice caught on camera entering the works and was recognised when police watched the footage.

Lancaster, of Mackay Road, Little Bloxwich, was locked up for 13 months yesterday at Wolverhampton Crown Court.

Prosecuting, Mr Warren Stanier said an unknown offender had initially climbed on to a roof and smashed a window to get into Parsons Engineering.

What followed between April 23 and 25 was multiple thefts, including 126 electrical tools worth more £25,500, wheels and tyres totalling £3,500, computer equipment valued at almost £10,500 as well as cash and a £400 cycle.

Lancaster was among people seen on CCTV footage going into the premises but he was the only one subsequently traced, added Mr Stanier.