A thief stole £115,000 worth of machinery equipment from a business after breaking into an industrial estate. The theft resulted in the business losing thousands of pounds worth of work after having to temporarily shut.
Robert Dowding, 53, and another targeted commercial premises belonging to BAS International on Llantarnam Industrial Park in Cwmbran on December 7 last year. When the owner of the business came in the next day to discover the break in and found vehicle injection moulds worth £115k had been taken.
A sentencing hearing at Cardiff Crown Court on Wednesday heard Dowding and his unknown accomplice had staked the business out the day before and carried out the burglary "in the dead of night " in a car accompanied by his dogs. The defendant, of Melfort Gardens, Newport, was arrested and later pleaded guilty to burglary and theft.
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Prosecutor Josh Scouller said there was a "large financial impact" on BAS International with owner Robert Humphries' statement stating they were unable to fulfil orders which led to a substantial loss of income and there was an issue with insurance. Despite the business' difficulties, fortunately no one lost their job as a result of the theft.
Defence barrister Ieuan Rees said his client lived a "chaotic lifestyle" and had a "horrific" criminal record, having previous convictions for burglary amongst other offences. He said the defendant had suffered from abuse and an unstable upbringing which led to him a lifestyle of crime. He said Dowding was also addicted to amphetamines which caused "warped thinking".
Sentencing, Judge Daniel Williams said: "The reality is you don't care at all for the victims of your burglary or offences you have committed over the years. There was clearly planning and organisation and you were part of a small team."
Dowding was sentenced to a total of three years and seven months imprisonment. He was also given a further two months imprisonment for breaching a suspended sentence.
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