A thief who smashed his way through the roof of a convenience store and stole thousands of cigarettes and bottles of booze has been in court to learn his fate.
Aaron Gee was caught after leaving traces of blood and a muddy footprint at the scene of the burglary at the Nisa store on the Crimdon Dene caravan site in November 2021.
The 42-year-old left the business owner more than £5,000 out of pocket as the premises wasn’t insured, Teesside Crown Court heard.
Ellen Wright, prosecuting, said the burglary was discovered when the owner’s daughter turned up to open the shop for business.
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She told the court that a hole had been made in the roof and the cigarette booth had been forced open and emptied by Gee along with booze, toothpaste and toys.
“Outside the shop were some carrier bags with some the stolen items inside,” she added. “Footprints were found at the scene and where a strong match with the defendant.
“There was some blood at the entry point and that blood tested positive for a match to the defendant.”
Miss Wright said the burglary had caused the business to lose £5,220 in damage and stolen goods.
Gee, of Bishopton Road, Stockton, pleaded guilty to one count of burglary following the raid on November 7, 2021.
Gary Wood, mitigating, said his client struggled with alcohol abuse and accepted that he needed to address his conviction.
He told the court that Gee had been remanded in custody for two months after failing to attend a pre-sentence report meeting when he jetted-off on holiday.
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Judge Jonathan Carroll told Gee that he was benefitting from his guilty plea despite it only being made in the face of ‘irrefutable’ evidence.
He added: “Small businesses are not well equipped to sustain the type of loss that you inflicted.”
Gee was sentenced nine-months in custody suspended for two years.
Judge Carroll added: “I’m doing so, not for you but I’m doing it so that you can pay back the money to the business as some sort or restitution.”
The defendant was also ordered to pay £2,500 in compensation, subjected to a 120-day alcohol monitoring order, attend 30 rehabilitation activity requirement days and carry out 150 hours of unpaid work.
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