£100k bill after thieves 'cannibalise' Brownhills restaurant

The Terrace Restaurant in Brownhills had been closed for eight months when a van was spotted at the rear of the premises, Wolverhampton Crown Court was told.

Police were alerted and discovered a scene of destruction inside the property where catering equipment, alcohol and other items had been stolen and extensive damage caused by the attempted removal of water pipes, explained Miss Emma Wynne-Owen, prosecuting.

The lawyer continued: "The cost of the damage caused and the value of property stolen is estimated at £100,000."

The restaurant had closed and the thieves and vandals had struck between the last time it was checked on November 14 and the discovery of the break in five days later.

Police found blood on the floor and scientific checks matched it with the DNA of 48-year-old Alan Smith from Walsingham Street, Walsall, the court heard.

He insisted that the property had been insecure when he arrived at the scene and he had taken just four bags of copper worth £30, it was said.

Miss Wynne-Owen said the prosecution did not accept this but were unable to disprove the claim.

Mr Mohammed Naser, defending, argued: "There is a huge disparity between the overall loss and the benefit derived by this defendant. He did not have permission to remove the property he did but this was neither premeditated nor planned. He took a chance and has made a gross error of judgement."

Smith, who had a long list of previous convictions, admitted burglary and was jailed for ten months by Recorder Derek Sweeting QC who said: "The restaurant had been left unoccupied with a great deal of valuable equipment in it and became a target for those who wanted to steal. Over a period of five days it was cannibalised by various people and a great deal of damage was done."

The judge told the defendant: "You had been given an opportunity for some work and did not initially think it would involve anything unlawful. We have no verification of what you say happened and you have made a career of committing offences of dishonesty but your part in this appears to have been limited."

Property consultancy firm SEP Properties Ltd have bought the silver service restaurant, as well as The Pied Piper in Cannock.

The firm, with bases in Lichfield and Dudley, has a substantial portfolio of commercial buildings in various locations across England and Wales.

Bosses have not yet revealed their plans for the future of both sites.