This is the moment a burglar was discovered hiding in a barn after participating in a break-in that resulted in more than £100,000 worth of damage. Christopher Joseph Shelley, 47, of Delfby Crescent, Kirkby, and Vincent Paul Jackson, 42, of Norbury Road, Kirkby, were each sentenced to two years and four months in prison at Liverpool Crown Court on Friday, June 12.
The pair admitted burglary and criminal damage following an incident at the former Game Bird pub on East Lancashire Road, St Helens. Police were called to the premises at around 2:45 pm on Thursday, May 14, after an alarm was activated at the disused building.
When officers arrived, Shelley was found nearby carrying stolen materials, including copper wiring and a water tank. Jackson fled the scene but was later discovered attempting to hide in a barn on nearby farmland after officers launched a search.
Merseyside Police dog PD Ghost and handler PC Jon Bland played a key role in tracking Jackson down following a foot chase. During a subsequent search of the area, officers also recovered a pair of gloves and a hat.
An investigation found that water pipes inside the building had been deliberately cut during the burglary, causing extensive flooding and significant damage to the pub's gas, electrical, and air-conditioning systems. The total cost of the damage is estimated to exceed £100,000.
Both men were arrested on suspicion of burglary and criminal damage and later pleaded guilty to the offences. They appeared at Liverpool Crown Court on Friday, June 12, where they were each handed prison sentences of two years and four months.
Speaking after the sentencing, Detective Inspector Jimmy Rotheram said: "The stress and inconvenience caused by the greedy and reckless antics of Shelley and Jackson are clear to see from the videos of the criminal damage and destruction they left in their wake. Burglary at business premises has serious consequences and we hope today's outcome acts as a deterrent to anyone seeing empty businesses as a treasure trove. The alarm notified our officers and within minutes, both men were detained. Much like the Wet Bandits in Home Alone, they are back where they belong - prison."
Inspector Phil McManus from the Matrix Dogs and Mounted Unit said: "We are so proud of PD Ghost and PC Bland. They are a new team within our dog unit, and the search last month was a demonstration of strong handling, effective tracking, and excellent teamwork from PD Ghost and all of our officers who attended the scene. Our dogs and handlers are a highly trained unit responsible for tackling serious crime, tracking suspects, and locating items including drugs, cash, firearms, and explosives. You can follow their social media to hear about all their great work @MerPolDogs on X."
