Thief who cost Wednesfield Christian Centre £10,000 given jail term
A man who left a Christian centre £10,000 out of pocket when he burgled it and stole a minibus has been jailed.
Clive Halford – who had dozens of previous convictions – stole the bus and other items including a laptop and a games console from Wednesfield Christian Centre.
The bus has never been recovered, and Halford was sentenced to 14 months in prison.
Prosecutor Mr Richard Davenport told the court that Halford, aged 45, of Hobgate Road in Heath Town, was arrested after his DNA was left at the scene.
Mr Davenport told the court: "The Christian centre was locked and secured by the pastor at 5pm on September 21.
"At 7.15am on September 22 the pastor returned to the church – the iron gates had been twisted and the pastor noticed the minibus was missing."
Blood marks in the church led to Halford being identified. Mr Davenport said: "When arrested he said he suffered from blackouts which affected his memory from smoking cannabis. The damage was extensive and will cost the centre £10,000."
Halford pleaded guilty to burglary other than a dwelling and theft of a motor vehicle at Wolverhampton Magistrates' Court last month.
Defending Halford, Miss Sarah Allen said: "The fact it was a church does not make it a more vulnerable victim per se. It's not the worst offence."
Recorder Mr John Edwards sentenced Halford to 14 months for burglary and eight months for theft of the minibus, to run concurrently.
