A prolific criminal who took part in two robberies and committed three other offences within a few hours is starting his latest stint behind bars.

Dylan Barnes committed the first of his most recent offences at a petrol filling station in Seaham before 6am on April 14 and ended the mini-spree by taking part in the robbery of a driver delivering to a Durham University college, later that morning.

Barnes, who was subject of a motoring ban and, therefore, uninsured, drove a Ford Mondeo to and from the crime scenes, among the latest of 238 offences on his record.

Durham Crown Court was told he filled the car with £50-worth of petrol at 5.50am, before entering the shop at New Seaham Service Station, on Stockton Road, from where he took some bin bags from a shelf and filled one with all the packets of dish washer pods on display.

Read more: Alleged robbery of food delivery driver outside Durham college

Matthew Hopkins, prosecuting, said the assistant pressed a panic button and approached Barnes to try to confront him, but was threatened with having his head “knocked off” if he got any closer.

In fear for his safety he moved away as Barnes left in the car, with the stolen goods and having not paid for the petrol.

Mr Hopkins said he next appeared at Trevelyan College, in Elvet Hill, Durham, parking the Mondeo next to a delivery truck, after flashing to let its driver in first, between 10am and 10.45am that morning.

When the driver was away from the vehicle while unloading, Barnes’ accomplice used a small hammer to smash his way into the truck’s cab, from where he took a number of items, including bank cards, a Sat Nav, a knee support and cash.

As the driver made his way back to the vehicle, Barnes shouted to his accomplice: “He’s coming, he’s coming”, and a scuffle took place in which the delivery man was threatened with the hammer.

Mr Hopkins said Barnes urged his partner in crime to, “just f***ing stab him”, before approaching himself and trying to throw a punch at the driver.

Read more: Man accused of robbery at Durham University college

When the shaken victim retreated, fearing for his well-being, Barnes then took a bag from the cab and made off with the accomplice in the Mondeo, threatening a college porter as they left.

The driver described the incident as, “a really scary and unexpected experience”, adding that he was unaware what weapon Barnes’ sidekick was carrying when the shouts were made to “stab him”.

Barnes was arrested the following day and, at earlier court hearings, the 41-year-old defendant, of Hylton Street, Millfield, Sunderland, admitted two counts of robbery, plus one each of driving while disqualified, without insurance and making off without payment for the petrol.

His co-accused, a 45-year-old Sunderland man, denied one of the robbery charges, but was cleared following an earlier trial.

Liam O’Brien, for Barnes, conceded that after a difficult childhood he has led, “a pretty unproductive life”, having held down no jobs since his teenage years.

“He can’t blame all his problems on his childhood and it has to be said he has a troubling record.

“There can’t have been many offenders, sadly, with more than 200 offences on their record.”

But Mr O’Brien said since 2019 his rate of offending, “has dropped off a cliff” and his personal life reached its, “lowest point.”

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               Cases of five people before court in Durham in recent days

               Six people jailed in cases at Durham Crown Court this week

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He said that while on remand in custody the defendant has taken every opportunity to attend classes, gain qualifications and a trusted status within Durham Prison, earning commendations for his activities.

Recorder Tom Moran acknowledged that he may have been a “model prisoner”, but said Barnes’ problems seem to arise when he is released from custody.

He said he was reducing the sentence slightly to take into account his good work record in prison, but he still imposed a 40-month, (three years and four months), term of imprisonment, of which Barnes will serve no more than half before being released on licence supervision.