Criminal is jailed again for raids on newsagents

A man who staged smash-and-grab raids on two newsagents shortly after being freed from a prison sentence imposed for a similar offence was today again behind bars.

Steven Cain used a Suzuki car that had been stolen the previous evening when the crime spree started at 3.15am on November 19, Wolverhampton Crown Court heard yesterday.

Cain and an accomplice smashed the front window of News Express in Lower Prestwood Road, Wednesfield, and stole two cash trays from tills.

Both of these were empty but the raid caused £500 damage to the store, Mrs Sati Ruck, prosecuting, told the court.

The culprits drove off at speed and struck again less than 45 minutes later at Daves newsagents in Coalway Road, Merry Hill.

The security grill was torn off the front of the shop before a haul of cigarettes were stolen.

The raiders escaped in the stolen Suzuki that was found by police not far from the scene. The stolen cigarettes were in a bin liner in the boot and Cain was discovered hiding around the corner, the court heard.

Cain had a string of previous convictions including six for theft, four for taking vehicles and five for driving while disqualified, the court heard. He was on licence from prison after being jailed for offences that included a similar raid on a newsagents.

Mr Jon Roe, defending, said: "He had intended to go straight after his release from prison but came into contact with a former acquaintance who put pressure on him to take part in the crime as settlement of a drug debt.

"He has now cleared himself on his drug addiction and when next released will move to live with his relatives in Blackpool."

Cain, 28, from Pinson Road, Willenhall, admitted two commercial burglaries and was given consecutive 15-month sentences on each, meaning a total term of two-and-a-half years behind bars.

No action was taken against a second man detained in connection with the burglaries.