Matthew Hollingworth, 28, has been jailed for 20 months for stealing numerous parcels from the same Manchester city centre apartment blocks over a six-week period. He previously pleaded guilty to eight offences of burglary, one offence of failing to surrender to court and one offence of attempted burglary.
Series of thefts from city centre apartments
Hollingworth first struck on December 11 last year, breaking into the mail room at Kelso Place, Castlefield, and removing 20 parcels, the court heard. On another occasion, he used a knife to gain quicker access to items, and among the stolen items were a Samsung speaker and soundbar worth £234.
“The next offences in time took place on March 19 this year at the Base Apartments, on Arundel Street. At around 5am he attended and a number of parcels were taken,” said prosecutor Patrick Williamson. “He next returned on March 25.”
Reinforced door and scaffolding break-in
He targeted Base Apartments again on April 2 at 2am, then attended at Kelso Place at 5am where he stole the speaker and soundbar. On April 7, he targeted Base Apartments, and again on April 15, but the group who owned the building had installed a reinforced door worth £3,000, meaning Hollingworth was unable to gain access.
He attended at Base Apartments again on April 25 and was able to get into the mail room by climbing into it using scaffolding, causing £1,200 of damage. Hollingworth was arrested on April 30 and released on bail pending further investigation.
Arrest and impact on residents
However, on July 31 this year he was seen by a security guard in the car park of a block of flats on Warwick Street in Stretford. He then tried to force the door of the post room, but the guard had already called the police and he was swiftly arrested.
A spokesperson for Kelso Place said the thefts had caused damage to the reputation of the building and residents had been left feeling 'uneasy'. They have since had to have a full review of the security measures in place. For Base Apartments, a spokesperson said they had been left concerned about the prospect of residents coming face to face with Hollingworth when he was armed with a knife.
Georgia Faulke, defending, said Hollingworth, who had six previous convictions for seven offences, had been offence free since 2018, until he lost his job at a warehouse. “This led to a drop in his mental health. He turned to drugs and was struggling with drug addiction,” she said. “This then led to him struggling financially due to that drug use, and ultimately he made what were a series of incredibly unwise decisions and committed these offences for financial gain.”
Jailing him, Recorder Imran Shafi KC said his offending was 'persistent and prolific' and had caused anguish to residents. Hollingworth, of Derbyshire Lane West, Stretford, was jailed for 20 months, of which he will serve one third in prison before being released on licence.
