Burglars caused thousands of pounds of shop damage

Daniel Clerkson and David Chilvers admitted multiple counts of burglary

A pair of burglars who caused thousands of pounds worth of damage when they raided two shops have been jailed.

Daniel Clerkson, 32, targeted Ashington's Tesco Express three times and Co-op twice in May and June this year, stealing bottles of alcohol and packets of chocolate brownies, Newcastle Crown Court heard.

He was joined on his last two raids by David Chilvers, 25, and from Blyth.

Both admitted multiple counts of non-dwelling burglary with Clerkson jailed for three years and Chilvers for 18 months.

Clerkson, who had about 100 offences on his criminal record including 66 theft-related crimes, first smashed his way into the Tesco store at about 04:30 BST on 31 May, prosecutor Jordan Parkinson said.

Having used a hammer to destroy a window, he stole bottles of vodka, the court heard.

'Appalling record'

Clerkson returned the following day at about 04:20 and smashed his way in again through another window, this time taking £1,360 worth of alcohol, Ms Parkinson said.

The damage was estimated to have cost £4,000 to repair, the court heard, with Clerkson, of no fixed abode, identified through CCTV and a footprint he left at the scene.

He smashed the front window of the Co-op at about 05:00 on 2 June, and took bottles of alcohol worth £260, the court heard.

On 7 June, Clerkson and Chilvers used an axe to smash their way into the Tesco again, taking £1,700 worth of alcohol and £800 from a till they hacked open with the weapon, Ms Parkinson said.

On 11 June, the pair broke a window to get into the Co-op, from where they stole £100 worth of alcohol and £10 worth of chocolate brownies, the court heard.

The damage to the Co-op was estimated to cost £5,000 to repair with the shop losing £7,000 a day in takings while it had to be shut, Ms Parkinson said.

The court heard Clerkson was currently on prison recall until 2027, having been jailed for robbery.

Judge Roberts Adams said Clerkson had an "appalling" criminal record.

Chilvers, of Cowley Place in Cowpen, Blyth, had more than 40 previous offences on his criminal record.