A PROLIFIC burglar who broke into a charity shop in Northwich four separate times has been jailed for 14 months.

Andrew Davies, 42, of no fixed abode, was sentenced after pleading guilty to burglary at Chester Crown Court on Monday (July 26).

He was also ordered to pay a £128 fine.

The court heard how, in recent years, the Age UK charity shop on Witton Street had been targeted on four occasions by Davies from October 2017 and June 2021.

On each occasion the glass panel at the foot of the store’s main entrance door was smashed in order to gain entry.

Due to the fact the store was persistently targeted, a CCTV system was donated – and it was this that captured footage of Davies breaking into the shop once again on Tuesday, June 8 this year.

Davies made an untidy search and after being unable to locate the till he snatched a charity box before fleeing the scene.

After being alerted to the incident, officers attended the store and discovered the stolen charity box, which had been emptied, dumped nearby.

Two days later Davies was spotted by officers in Chester City Centre where he initially provided false details to them.

However, officers were able to establish his true identity.

Further enquiries at the address where Davies was staying uncovered CCTV from the night of the burglary that pictured him wearing the same clothing as the suspect in the Age UK CCTV.

He was taken into custody where he admitted the offence.

He was subsequently charged and remanded for sentencing.

Police constable Matt Uren said: "What is shocking about this case is that Davies continued to target the charity shop for his own gain.

"He had no regard for the shop or the money which had been donated by the people of Northwich to this well deserving cause.

"I hope the sentence handed down by the courts will act as a deterrent for those who think that they can get away with committing offences in our area."