Thief who has committed more than 100 offences is spared jail

Magistrates told Carl Cartwright that they had decided to suspend his prison sentence following his latest crime spree due to them believing that ‘there is a chance of rehabilitation’.

The 49-year-old appeared before Warrington Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday after pleading guilty to two counts of burglary and one count of burglary with intent to steal.

The court heard how the offences happened in April and June of this year.

The first burglary took place at a café on Long Lane and police were called after a witness spotted a man wearing a red and white balaclava shining a torch inside the premises.

The businessowner found that Cartwright, of Laira Street, Bewsey, had taken a safe from the café which had £1,000 in it. He had also taken cash out of the till and left the café in a state of ‘general mess’.

Warrington Magistrates’ Court heard how the owner was left ‘shocked and deflated’ by the burglary and that the café is her main source of income.

She was unable to open for a day due to the mess Cartwright had caused.

The next offences occurred in June at two businesses on Knutsford Road in Latchford.

Cartwright forced his way into a salon and took cash before he ransacked a vintage shop and broke into its workshop.

As well as damaging the lock, he also took a bowl of vintage handles worth around £100.

The court was told how Cartwright has 48 convictions for 101 offences.

Defending, Gary Schooler said how his client has not appeared before the court for six years.

Concluding, the chair of the magistrates’ bench said: “The reason we have decided to suspend the prison sentence is because we do believe that there is a chance of rehabilitation if you work with probation.”

He was handed a 12-week prison sentence suspended for 18 months.

Cartwright must also complete a six-month rehabilitation order and up to 30 rehabilitation activity requirement days.

He must pay £500 in compensation to the café, £150 to the vintage shop and £75 to the salon.