Burglars raid Sheffield's Ponds Forge International Sports Centre during lockdown

Two burglars have been jailed after they raided Ponds Forge sports centre and stole cash.
By Jon Cooper
Published 28th May 2020, 10:04 BST
Updated 28th May 2020, 11:24 BST
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Sheffield Crown Court heard on May 26 how John Stoakes, aged 33, and Daryl Cusworth, aged 34, both of no fixed abode, burgled the sports centre on Sheaf Street, in Sheffield city centre, while it has been closed to the public during the coronavirus lockdown.

Brian Outhwaite, prosecuting, said Cusworth was found with a number of £1 coins and Stoakes was also found with cash and a lock knife and a screwdriver after the raid in April.

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The court heard Stoakes had also raided vending machines with a metal bar at The Gym, on The Moor, in Sheffield, in March and stole £100 in cash and caused an estimated £1,850 of damage.

Two men have been jailed after they raided the Ponds Forge sports centre, pictured, on Sheaf Street, in Sheffield.Two men have been jailed after they raided the Ponds Forge sports centre, pictured, on Sheaf Street, in Sheffield.
Two men have been jailed after they raided the Ponds Forge sports centre, pictured, on Sheaf Street, in Sheffield.

He also raided the Ponds Forge sports centre in March, according to Mr Outhwaite, by using a paving slab to smash the frame in a door and raided vending machines and stole cash and a tool bag valued at £430 and caused £1,350 of damage.

Mr Outhwaite added that Stoakes was also spotted inside the premises of the Ponds Forge centre in April prior to the joint raid of the centre later in the day by both Stoakes and Cusworth.

Stoakes, who has previous convictions, pleaded guilty to three burglaries and another burglary with intent to steal, and to possessing a lock knife in a public place.

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Cusworth, who also has previous convictions, pleaded guilty to one burglary and to breaching a suspended prison sentence which had been imposed for supplying heroin.

Lauren Fisher, defending, said Stoakes has a class A drug habit and committed these offences while he was homeless with little income.

Kate Riekstina, defending, said Cusworth has been diagnosed with PTSD after leaving the Army but he has been in-and-out of trouble due to substance misuse but he has not used heroin since 2018.

Judge Graham Reeds QC told the court he was convinced the current coronavirus lockdown was seen as an opportunity to commit these offences.

He sentenced Stoakes to three-years and two-months of custody and sentenced Cusworth to two-years and six-months of custody.