A MAN who travelled from Manchester to the North-East to steal suitcases from train passengers, has been jailed for six weeks.

John Farrow, 37, stole the cases from a train which was travelling between York and Middlesbrough on January 24.

He was identified after CCTV from the train was viewed by officers. They captured him leaving the train with two suitcases belonging to other people from the Yarm area.

After pleading guilty to the thefts, Farrow, of Stanley Street in Manchester, appeared at York Magistrates Court on April 10, where he was jailed for six weeks and ordered to pay a total of £856 to his victims.

Sgt Tim Woolven, of British Transport Police, said: “Farrow travelled from Manchester to target passengers in the North East, stealing two cases which both contained a number of personal belongings.

“Its great news that he has been handed a custodial sentence meaning he is now behind bars and unable to continue his criminal behaviour.

“CCTV is a great tool in helping us identify offenders, and any would be thief needs to be aware that we will always seek to identify and prosecute anyone who steals from the railway network.”