A REPEAT burglar who wanted to remain in custody had his wish granted when a judge jailed him for two years.

Time ran out for Justin Poyner after he targeted the same jewellery store twice in little over a week and stole thousands of pounds worth of designer watches.

The 49-year smashed a display unit and grabbed £2,577.70 worth of B watches from Hallmark the Jewellers on November 29 last year before returning in the early hours of December 7 when he forced his way into the shop with the help of an unknown accomplice.

Teesside Crown Court heard how Poyner was spotted by CCTV operators who directed police towards the defendant resulting in his arrest.

The Northern Echo: Justin PoynerJustin Poyner

Richard Bennett, prosecuting, said Poyner has 151 convictions, the vast majority for acts of dishonesty.

He said: "A staff member noticed a watch label on the floor and upon checking the watch cabinet she noticed that a number of Bering watches had been taken.

"CCTV was checked and the defendant was seen approaching the cabinet, forcing it open and taking the watches."

Mr Bennett said several days later a member of staff from nearby Cash Converters came to the store to show them a number of watches which the company had bought off a customer.

The court heard how the on the following Poyner and an accomplice forced entry to the store and stole jewellery and watches of an unknown value but they did cause £4,500 worth of damage to the front of the store.

Poyner, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to two charges of commercial burglary following the two raids. 

Shaun Dryden, in mitigation, said his client had moved to the Redcar-area to get away from his criminal past in the Midlands and tackle his drug addiction.

Recorder Paul Reid granted Poyner's wish and jailed him for two years.

"He has has an appalling record and he told the probation officer he had left the Midlands to leave behind his life of crime and start afresh in the North East," he said.

"You have indicated that you are happier inside prison than you are outside, which is a very depressing remark.

"You will have your wish granted to remain in prison for a while but I am not going to impose a sentence which will be crushing but you must realise that the maximum sentence for this is ten-years and there could come a time when a court will sentence you to an extremely heavy sentence."

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