Casino burglars caused £8k damage to steal 40p

Two burglars caused £8,000 of damage at a casino only to make off with just 40p as part of series of break-ins, a court has heard.

Rhys Smith and Peter Robinson also stole £11,000 worth of cigarettes and scratch cards from a supermarket in Peterlee, County Durham, during a spate of burglaries in January and February, Teesside Crown Court heard.

A business owner, from Seaham, who had a motorbike and tools worth £18,000 taken, said the burglary had threatened the survival of his company.

Both men from Peterlee admitted multiple counts of burglary, with Smith, 24, jailed for 16 months and Robinson, 26, given a two-year community order.

The users of two neighbouring units at Hall Dene Way industrial estate, Seaham, reported they had been broken into on 10 January, prosecutor Ellen Wright said.

One was a fledgling dog grooming business, which had cleaning products, dog coats and treats worth almost £2,600 stolen, the court heard.

From the other, an £11,000 Harley Davidson motorbike and £7,000 worth of tools and other equipment were stolen, with the business owner's van also substantially damaged during the burglary, Ms Wright said.

In a statement submitted to the court, the business owner said his van was away for four months being fixed and he had lost about £60,000 in revenue, while he also had to take out a £22,000 loan to stay afloat and his insurance premiums had "gone up massively".

He said whoever targeted his business had "basically taken away" his livelihood and he and his staff were "absolutely floored", having to work hard to get back on track.

Smith admitted carrying out both Seaham burglaries, and he was joined on later raids by Robinson, the court heard.

On 30 January, the store manager of Morrisons on Oakerside Drive in Peterlee arrived at about 03:00 GMT to find burglars had broken in through a rear window and stolen tobacco, cigarettes and scratch cards worth £11,000, Ms Wright said.

In the early hours of 2 February, burglars were caught on camera smashing up fruit machines at Admiral Casino in Peterlee, the court heard.

Ms Wright said the men only managed to get 40p but the damage they caused to the machines was estimated to be £8,000.

A short time later they broke into a van and stole tools worth £3,383, the court heard.

Smith, of Elliott Road, admitted four counts of burglary and one of theft, while Robinson, of Burt Close, pleaded guilty to two burglaries and a theft.

As part of his community order, Robinson must also abide by four months of electronic monitoring of his movements and work with the Probation Service.

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