A serial burglar and ‘menace’ to the city centre left numerous small businesses out of pocket after carrying out a spree in the Arndale. Callum Fleming, 25, repeatedly targeted shops, cafe’s and salons throughout the city centre shopping mall.
He was caught on CCTV jumping over entrances before breaking into tills and cupboards in order to steal cash and other valuables. In one burglary he stole a personal laptop, which the manager couldn’t afford to replace, Manchester Crown Court heard.
A total of eight stores were affected, all of which have been left having to deal with the financial consequences.
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Fleming admitted eight offences of burglary, an offence of theft and possession of class A drugs. He was jailed for 59 weeks.
Prosecuting, Carl Hargan said the burglaries began on December 8 last year, when Fleming was caught jumping over the gated entrance to Bobo Tea, after the store had closed. He damaged a cupboard, which had to be replaced, and stole £500 cash.
Three days later on December 12, he broke into Nail Culture, damaged a cupboard before making off without stealing anything. The following day he again broke into Bobo Tea and damaged a lock, which had been recently put in, before leaving. Nothing was taken during this.
“The next burglary took place on January 1 this year at the Doner Shack. The door was closed but he entered the store by the side door which led to the staff only area,” Mr Hargan said.
“He stole a case of Coca Cola cans, a case of Fruit Shoot bottles, a first aid kit and four tubs of Nutella, to the value of £142. He was also seen on CCTV to leave the freezer door open, the value of the food wasted was £1,000.”
The keys to the fridge were also stolen and had to be replaced. On the same day, Fleming broke into Barburrito, stealing six Lenovo tablets used to order food, which were worth a total of £540.
Days later he broke into a Mobile Technician workshop, forcing the lock, and stole a repair tool kit, USB cables, phone screens and cases to the value of £1,825. He then broke into Cake Box, also found in the Arndale, and took cakes and cash from the till.
He was later caught going equipped to steal in the Arndale, when he was caught with screwdrivers, a monkey wrench and 15 cans of Red Bull.
These offences put him in breach of a suspended sentence for another offence of burglary at the Albert House, wherein he stole a laptop, Samsung tablet, three iPads and a tool bag, all of which was worth over £4,000.
Fleming was said to have previous convictions for 32 offences including for burglary, and the majority of which took place at the Arndale.
Appearing unrepresented due the current industrial action, Fleming consented to being sentenced without legal representation. Speaking over a videolink, he said: “I was going through a hard time at the time, innit. I’m sorry for what I did.”
The sentencing judge, Recorder Neil Usher, indicated that he had read a presentence report that highlighted Fleming’s issues with class A drugs.
“When I get released I’m going to come off it a little bit at a time. I was going through a hard time - drugs have ruined my life,” Fleming said.
“I want a life, you know? I don’t want this anymore, I want a life. I want a job and I want to see my family.”
Sentencing, Recorder Usher said: “There is no doubt that you are an absolute menace to businesses in the city centre. When you spoke to probation you seemed to struggle to understand the victims of your crimes were victims - just because these are not people’s homes doesn’t mean there were no victims.
“Overwhelmingly, the victims of your offending are small businesses in the city centre, people who work hard, who don’t earn a great deal of money, who don’t expect to come to work to find you have broken into their business and stolen cash to deal with your problems with drugs.
“This has caused very significant distress, inconvenience and loss to hard working people.”
Fleming, of no fixed abode, was jailed for 59 weeks.
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