Burglar who raided South Yorkshire chemist store snared after leaving a trace of blood at scene
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Sheffield Crown Court heard on January 19 how Paul Moncaster, aged 41, of no fixed abode, struck at Lloyds Pharmacy, on Fenton Road, Rotherham, in November.
Tom Heath, prosecuting, said a store supervisor became suspicious when she found the store shutter partly-lifted and she alerted police.
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Hide AdThe supervisor closed the pharmacy but was contacted by her husband who had driven past and had seen the shutter had been lifted again, according to Mr Heath.
Mr Heath added the store window had been forced and a cabinet had been smashed and items had been stolen and CCTV showed a man entering the property on two occasions that evening.
A perfume cabinet was smashed and perfume was stolen and someone came back with another person and stole a gift-set and on a different occasion a third man came back and stole skincare products.
The court heard the total value of the stolen goods was £4,331.15.
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Hide AdMr Heath said a box of perfume was left behind with blood on it which was matched to the defendant.
Moncaster, formerly of Kimberworth, Rotherham, claimed he had been on his way home when he had seen the smashed pharmacy window and had cut his hand on the glass but said he had not smashed the glass or burgled the premises.
However, Moncaster, who has previous convictions, pleaded guilty to committing the non-dwelling burglary.
Mr Heath claimed Moncaster, who has been remanded in custody, had been a member of a group who had done a dry-run the night before the pharmacy had been burgled.
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Hide AdEdward Moss, defending, said: “He has utilised the time in custody to address his serious class A drug addiction which is now some way down the road to resolving itself.”
Mr Moss added Moncaster’s offending had come about after his mother died and his relationship broke down and he became homeless and resorted to taking drugs.
Judge David Dixon told Moncaster: “Your record is appalling. For the last 25 years or more you have been committing offences of dishonesty of various different types.”
He sentenced Moncaster to 20 months of custody.
