Man who broke into Endon store jailed

A burglar who broke into Endon’s co-op store on December 3rd has been jailed for 30 months.

Ashley Bowen from Stoke-on-Trent broke into the store just before midnight and attempted to steal cigarettes from the locked tobacco cabinet using an angle grinder after failed attempts he also caused substantial damage to the ATM before leaving empty handed. Bowen went on the run from police for over a month but was rumbled and arrested when officers found him hiding in a cupboard in an address in Bentilee. Alongside his 30 month jail sentence he has also been banned from driving for 27 months and ordered to take an extended driving test.

The court heard that Bowen opened the doors of the premises on Leek Road with a crowbar just before midnight and jumped over the counter and attempted to open the cabinet.

After numerous failed attempts, he returned a short while later with an angle grinder but still failed to open it. Bowen then attempted to attack an ATM machine within the store with the angle grinder but still failed. He left empty handed but caused substantial damage in the store.

Bowen went on the run from police for over a month but was rumbled and arrested when officers found him hiding in a cupboard in an address on Winchester Avenue in Bentilee on 18 January.

Detective Constable David Stubbs, from force CID, said: “Bowen persisted in his efforts to get cigarettes from the store but we persisted in our efforts to catch him.

“Those who commit crime will be brought to justice.”

Bowen was sentenced at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court yesterday (14 May) after pleading guilty to assault by beating, damaging property, burglary, dangerous driving, driving while disqualified and driving without insurance on May 28 2019. He was also sentenced after pleading guilty to obstructing a police officer on January 18.