JAILED: Thief stole cars, keys, cash and cards from gyms across the Black Country
A thief who targeted gym lockers, getting away with car keys, mobile phones, bank cards and cash, has been locked up for more than two years.
Nicky Lawrence's one-man crime spree at Pure Gyms around the Black Country totalled £10,000.
The 27-year-old stole three cars after finding the keys in the lockers, targeting branches in Wolverhampton, West Bromwich, Smethwick and Stourbridge.
In total, he struck 15 times in two months in August and September last year, duping gym staff with false details.
Two of the cars he managed to steal were never found but some of the other victims had property returned following his arrest, Mr Gerry Bermingham told Wolverhampton Crown Court.
Lawrence was detained while at the wheel of the third stolen car - a Vauxhall Corsa - and a bag containing much of the rest of his haul was discovered in the vehicle.
Mr Philip Brunt, defending, said Lawrence was short of money and took 'pot luck' when selecting the lockers to prise open because he had not know what any of them contained.
The lawyer continued: "He made a number of wrong choices in an effort to improve his situation and accepts his offending must have been nasty and unpleasant for his victims."
Lawrence from Chipston Road, Alum Rock, Birmingham, admitted two charges of theft from the Wolverhampton gym and 10 other charges relating to thefts from the other three branches.
He was locked up for two years and five months by Recorder Abigail Nixon.
She told the jobless father-of-one: "You clearly planned what you were going to do and used false details to get into these changing rooms.
"It was a sophisticated series of offences involving at least £10,000 worth of property and you took it as you moved from gym to gym causing a considerable amount of inconvenience to your victims - just to satisfy your need for money.
"I am sure you had no regard whatsoever for these people. You went on time and time again to steal. Many people have financial problems and they struggle to find work but they do not behave in this way."
