'Prolific' burglar jailed for charity box thefts

Dean Cochrane smashed shop windows to steal their charity boxes

A "prolific" burglar has been jailed after stealing charity boxes from shops.

Dean Cochrane, 43, of no fixed abode, smashed the windows of Pasty Cove and Iceland in Chippenham and stole charity boxes filled with change, about a week ago.

Officers remanded Cochrane in custody and charged him with two thefts as well as further thefts at two supermarkets in Chippenham and supermarkets in Warminster and Bradford on Avon.

He pleaded guilty to all of the offences and was sentenced at Swindon Magistrates' Court on Saturday to 46 weeks' imprisonment.

Chippenham Sgt Jamie Ball said: “Cochrane is a prolific thief and burglar and it’s despicable that he has targeted the charity boxes in stores.

“Thanks to intelligence from the stores and the local community, we were able to arrest and charge Cochrane within just a couple of days of him burgling the stores, and I’m pleased he has already been sentenced for his crimes, for which there can be no justification."

"We are fortunate that the number of burglaries, including for businesses, in Chippenham is relatively low.

“However, this incident shows that when burglaries do take place, it is taken incredibly seriously.

“We will always endeavour to swiftly work with the businesses targeted to gather the evidence and ensure the perpetrators are brought to justice,” he added.