A serial South Yorkshire burglar is given a last chance to make something of his life

Andrew Calladine, aged 53, of Dawson Avenue, Rawmarsh, Rotherham, was captured on CCTV cameras during a burglary at T&T Automation, on West Bawtry Road, Rotherham, according to a Sheffield Crown Court hearing.

Prosecuting barrister Zaiban Alam told the hearing on March 3 that the manager received alerts from an alarm system and when he and the owner examined the cameras’ remote link they saw the defendant.

Ms Alam said: “Police attended and they found the side door insecure and inside they found Mr Calladine.”

Calladine was searched and was found to have stolen £11 in 50p pieces and a games console, according to Ms Alam, and he also had his own tools including a spanner, bolt croppers, crowbars and a hacksaw.

The defendant told police he had used a hacksaw on a lock and Ms Alam said a gate had been damaged, an office door had been forced open and work stations had been ransacked.

Calladine admitted he had gone to the premises with his tools to commit a burglary but he expressed remorse and claimed he had committed the offence because he was due to lose his job.

Calladine, who has previous convictions, pleaded guilty to the commercial burglary which happened on October 17, 2020.

The court heard Calladine has 46 convictions for 148 offences including 51 burglaries but Ms Alam conceded these burglaries were mostly at commercial properties.

Francis Edusei, defending, said: “He was going to be made redundant and he reverted to his old ways of entering commercial properties. He said it was to support his gambling addiction.”

Recorder David Kelly sentenced Calladine to 15 months of custody suspended for two years with a Rehabilitation Activity Requirement and a three-month curfew. The defendant must also pay £200 in compensation.

Recorder Kelly told Calladine: “You must regard this as your last chance to make something of your life, however belated.”

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