Bungled shop raider caught jumping lights

Twenty-one-year-old James Allen was spotted by police rushing in the opposite direction to the scene of the crime, Wolverhampton Crown Court was told.

"They had been alerted by the burglar alarm and put two and two together," explained Mr David Lees, prosecuting.

Allen, of Green Park Avenue, Bilston, had been in a five-strong gang that broke into the One Stop shop in Worcester Road, Stourbridge during the early hours of March 13.

But they set off a burglar alarm that filled the store with smoke as they unsuccessfully tried to break into the cigarette locker the court was told.

Officers realised their hunch had paid off as soon as they stopped the Mondeo in which Allen was travelling alone in Bath Road, Stourbridge.

There were gloves, a bolt cropper and crow bar in the vehicle and, significantly, the suspect smelled of smoke, said Mr Lee.

He added: "In the early hours of March 13 an alarm sounded at One Stop Store at around 1.40am. CCTV of the shop later showed five offenders had forced their way inside through the back door. The efforts they made to get into the cigarette locker activated a smoke cloak system and this filled the premises with smoke preventing them from stealing anything.

"As police were on their way to the scene they saw the car driven Allen fail to stop at the red traffic light. He has refused to name any of the others who were involved and there have been no further arrests."

Scrap yard worker Allen pleaded guilty to burglary, driving without insurance and ignoring a stop sign.

He had been held in custody since the crime and was given an eight month jail sentence suspended under supervision for 18 months with 200 hours unpaid work and a 12 month driving ban.

Judge Michael Dudley told him: "You have already been in custody for some time and so know what it is like. This was your first offence and I hope you can now be put back on the straight and narrow otherwise you are in danger of becoming a regular visitor to the courts."