Every business in enterprise hub broken into and £40,000 worth of property stolen - The Leamington Observer

Every business in enterprise hub broken into and £40,000 worth of property stolen

Leamington Editorial 17th Aug, 2018 Updated: 20th Aug, 2018   0

EVERY single business at a Leamington enterprise hub was broken into, losing more than £40,000 worth of property, during a burglary blitz carried out over a single weekend.

Burglar Kevin Woodward, who had been joined on one of the raids by his partner Sian O’Driscoll, was identified from a CCTV recording, Warwick Crown Court has heard.

But by the time the couple was arrested at the home of a friend where they were staying at the time, Woodward had carried out yet more break-ins at the Althorpe Enterprise Hub.

After the couple pleaded guilty to conspiracy to burgle, 41-year-old Woodward, of no fixed address, who also admitted two further burglaries at the premises, was jailed for 32 months.




But 27-year-old O’Driscoll, of Denby Close, Leamington, who entered her plea on the basis of taking part in just one visit to the premises, was given a 12-month community sentence and ordered to do 100 hours of unpaid work.

Prosecutor Aadhithya Anbahan said the Enterprise Hub in Althorpe Street was set up by Warwick District Council to help small and start-up businesses, and there were 17 offices occupied by 13 businesses.


CCTV at the premises one weekend in November last year captured Woodward breaking in and later returning with O’Driscoll.

They escaped with property including phones, tablets, computer equipment and other electrical items.

Woodward and another person returned on 11 further occasions later that day, during which they forced their way into all 13 businesses and stole property worth a total of £42,816.

Then just over two weeks later on December 6, Woodward carried out two further burglaries at the Enterprise Hub, stealing similar property worth around £13,000.

Miss Anbahan added Woodward had previous convictions for 77 offences, including nine burglaries, and was on licence at the time from a 30-month sentence for supplying cocaine, while O’Driscoll had just one conviction for a public order offence.

John Evans, for Woodward, said he committed crimes mostly to fund his addiction to class A drugs.

Paul O’Keeffe, for O’Driscoll, said she was ‘dabbling with drugs’ at the time, but has been clean since December and was now living back with her parents.

He pointed out she entered her plea on the basis it had not been her idea, and she had gone along on one occasion and assisted by carrying a computer out, and then refused to go back.

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