Boozed-up Sheffield burglar tried to break into funeral directors and vape shop

Mark Clifton was drunk when he broke into the store on March 7 – and he was in the same state when he attempted to break into a funeral director's and a vape shop, both on Barnsley Road, Sheffield, on March 31.

He smashed a glass panel and was later arrested while in possession of cannabis, said prosecutor Alison Goldsmith.

CCTV showed him ripping the shutter mechanism from the vape shop and putting it into a bin, causing £200 of damage.

And cameras also recorded him causing £1,000 of damage to the funeral directors when he used a crowbar to gain access.

"He was later found hiding in the bushes nearby," Ms Goldsmith said.

The court also heard Clifton was stopped by police while driving at twice the speed limit on Hartley Brook Road, Shiregreen, on June 30 last year.

Officers saw that he was "acting strangely," "unsteady on his feet," and "nervous," and a test revealed he had 400 microgrammes of amphetamine in his system when the acceptable limit is 250.

He only had an expired provisional licence and was banned for drink driving in September 2010, Ms Goldsmith added.

David Lawson, mitigating, said Clifton had been drinking to excess and using drugs at the time.

"He accepts he has been very stupid," he said. "He has gone out when in drink and not really made any profit from it.

"He is a fool to himself which I think he admits."

Clifton, aged 46, of Wordsworth Drive, admitted burglary, two counts of attempted burglary, possession of Class B drugs, driving offences and breaching a suspended sentence when he appeared at Sheffield Magistrates Court on April 2.

District Judge Naomi Redhouse said: "These type of offences are very serious for small business at any time - but at this time it's particularly awful for them. They're worried about whether they can keep their businesses open."

She remanded him to custody for sentencing at Sheffield Crown Court on April 23.

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