A BURGLAR who sneaked into a Costa Coffee staff room in Northwich and stole an employee's bank cards and wedding ring has been jailed. 

Carl Dingle, of Poplar Road, Weaverham, slipped into the private section of the Manchester Road cafe unnoticed on Saturday, May 6, last year. 

The 38-year-old, who was accompanied by an unidentified woman, walked off with a rucksack belonging to a staff member, which contained a wallet with four bank and credit cards, a pair of headphones, and a silver wedding ring.

He then went into two shops where he tried to use the cards.

The victim only realised they were missing when he got phone alerts from his bank saying the cards were being used. 

The same day, Dingle was caught on CCTV at Sainsbury's in Venables Road stealing two Henry vacuum cleaners worth £300. 

He also admitted stealing meat and cheese worth £80.60 from Tesco Express in Weaverham, and £204 worth of Yankee candles from Tesco in Northwich, in November 2023.

When police finally caught up with him on November 15, he resisted arrest, gave a no comment interview, and was remanded in custody on November 17.

Dingle appeared before Chester magistrates for sentencing on Tuesday, January 2, after pleading guilty to one count of burglary other than a dwelling, two counts of fraud, three counts of theft, and one count of obstructing a police officer.

Prosecuting, Lionel Cope told the court Dingle has 30 convictions for 106 offences, including numerous thefts, one as recently as June 2023.

Defending, Derek McDonald described Dingle as ‘a single man, with an extensive criminal record’.

He added: “He is frequently in and out of custody, has no stability, as he can’t get gainful employment due to his criminal record.

“The cost-of-living crisis, coupled with problems managing his benefits effectively, is proving very difficult for him.

“There are no aggravating factors surrounding the burglary at Costa Coffee, where he took the bag.

“He simply picked it up and walked out with it.”

Mr McDonald went on to suggest these were minor offences, and none crossed the custody threshold by itself, but accepted they may ‘when taken in totality’.

Taking his guilty pleas into account, magistrates sentenced Dingle to 14 weeks in prison, minus time already spent on remand.

He was also ordered to pay a £154 victim surcharge.