Man who stole £900 from takeaway shop jailed

A man who stole £900 in cash and crates of soft drinks from a takeaway shop in Stoke-on-Trent has been jailed for more than two years.

Michael Henderson, 32, of no fixed address, forced his way inside Pepe’s Peri Peri Grill on Piccadilly, Hanley, on two separate occasions in February last year.

In the first incident, he took £900 from inside the till as well as money from a charity box.

When he returned more than a week later, he smashed the window and looked inside the till again, which was empty. He took three crates of canned soft drinks and left.

The damage caused to the business was estimated to be worth around £5,000.

We carried out forensic work and found hits of Henderson’s blood at the scene. He was then arrested and charged with the offences.

Henderson pleaded guilty to two counts of burglary at an earlier hearing and was sentenced to two-years-and-three-months imprisonment at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court on Wednesday (14 August).

PC Natasha Egar, who was the officer in charge of the case, said: “We don’t underestimate the impact that burglary can have on businesses in Staffordshire and we’re committed to working proactively to stop those who are blighting local communities.

“I’m pleased that we were able to secure the evidence needed to convict Henderson and stop him from targeting the same business again.”