November 23, 2018 4.49 pm This story is over 64 months old

Charity shop burglar jailed

He was jailed for two years
Jason O'Keefe was jailed for two years. Photo: Lincolnshire Police

A burglar involved in a raid on a charity shop in Bourne was jailed for two years.

Jason O’Keefe was one of five men involved in the raid earlier this year on the Barnardo’s shop in Bourne.

Edna Leonard, prosecuting, said that the intruders smashed two windows to get into the shop and then tried to forced the safe.

She told the court: “The burglary took place round about 1am. Police had been alerted to a number of men acting suspiciously in Musselburgh Way, Bourne. The men were near to the Co-op and the Barnardo’s shop.

“A police officer arrived and saw there was a vehicle outside. There were two males in the vehicle and they drove off.”

Miss Leonard said the officer went into the Barnardo’s building and discovered two men inside.

One of the burglars shouted: “You can have it. I’m going to have you” before spraying a red substance towards the officer who then backed off for his own safety.

The intruders took some items of jewellery and left the scene but later the same morning O’Keefe was picked up by police who found him walking alongside the A15.

O’Keefe claimed he had been to a party and was making his way home.

He was arrested and forensic tests on his clothing revealed fragments of glass from the shattered shop window.

O’Keefe, 39, of no fixed address, admitted burglary as a result of the incident on September 7 this year. He was jailed for two years.

Diane Mundill, in mitigation, said that O’Keefe’s involvement was to smash the window allowing others to go inside.

“He never went inside the shop himself. There were five of them. He smashed the window.”

Miss Mundill said that O’Keefe had a long history of drug use but came off class A drugs two years ago.

She added that he has recently seen a psychiatrist and been diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder.

“He is hopeful that he will be able to use his time in custody to make progress with his mental health treatment.”

The prosecution offered no evidence against two brothers charged with the same burglary and both were formally cleared.

Derek Nash,45,of no fixed address and Scott Nash,38, of Drummond Close, Hampton Gardens, Peterborough, each denied burglary.