CCTV thief caught on film jailed

Anthony Gardiner caught on camera at the Railway Inn

A Plymouth burglar caught red-handed by the security cameras he was trying to steal has been jailed for 120 days.

The camera Anthony Gardiner,37, was caught on, at the Railway Inn, Devonport, was a replacement for one he had stolen a few days before.

Gardiner, of Home Park Avenue, was sentenced for the theft of the two cameras at Plymouth Magistrates' Court.

He admitted the offences at an earlier hearing where magistrate Brian Bailey called him a "pretty rubbish burglar".

Drug addiction

Gardiner thought he could make some quick money to feed a drug addiction by stealing CCTV cameras but he did not realise the cameras were recording everything he did as he reached up to grab them.

He was also sentenced on Friday for possessing 0.02oz (0.44g) of amphetamine.

He also asked for seven offences to be taken into consideration - the theft of six other CCTV cameras around the city, and possession of amphetamine.

Adrian Hill, defending, said Gardiner had drugs difficulties and wanted to lead a crime-free life.