Burglar who broke into Sheffield barber's shop suspected to have 'exploited lockdown'

A judge told a burglar she suspected he had exploited the coronavirus shutdown when he was caught trespassing.
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Michael Wragg, 42, of Bankwood Road, Sheffield, admitted burglary after police found him inside Gents Division barber’s, on Meadowhead, Woodseats, just after 4am, on March 25.

Joanne Lewis-Crooks told a Sheffield Magistrates’ Court hearing on March 26, sitting at Sheffield Crown Court, that police were called following a report and an officer believed a rear gate at the property appeared to have been forced open and they saw a rear door ajar.

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The police officer shouted a warning that he was armed with a stun gun before Wragg came out of the property, according to Ms Lewis-Crooks.

Police caught a burglar after he had trespassed at the Gents Division barber's shop in Woodseats, Sheffield.Police caught a burglar after he had trespassed at the Gents Division barber's shop in Woodseats, Sheffield.
Police caught a burglar after he had trespassed at the Gents Division barber's shop in Woodseats, Sheffield.

Wragg, who has previous convictions, pleaded guilty to the burglary on the basis of trespassing because nothing appeared to have been taken.

He admitted previously failing to attend an assessment in January after testing positive for a class A drug.

Wragg also accepted breaching a suspended prison sentence by failing to attend the assessment.

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Hester Russell, defending, said Wragg’s partner is self-isolating and there are problems with heroin and he went out because he finds the situation claustrophobic. She added Wragg apologises for the burglary.

District Judge Naomi Redhouse told Wragg: “I think you were taking advantage of the current situation by being outside in the middle of the night.”

She committed the burglary case to Sheffield Crown Court for sentencing on April 16. Sentencing for the failed drug assessment and for the breach of the suspended sentence was deemed served because Wragg had been in custody overnight.