A cheeky thief who took laptop computers from City
A cheeky thief who took laptop computers from City firms right beneath workers’ noses was jailed for three-and-a-half years at the Old Bailey today.
John Woodward, 27, casually walked into businesses in the City area and posed as an employee before snipping the cables with scissors and slipping the machines into his bag.
The serial crook struck 28 times hitting firms including solicitors and banks during a two-month spree.
He sold thousands of pounds worth of machines to feed his cocaine and heroin habit.
Staff at Herbert and Smith solicitors firm, Moorgate, raised the alarm after catching nerdy-looking Woodward wandering around their offices, on April 27 this year.
When quizzed, Woodward – of [203] Anesbury Avenue, Streatham Hill – was carrying a black holdall with a pair of scissors and a business card inside, said Miss Annabel Pilling, prosecuting.
Police traced the business card to Logica, a company based in Hampstead Road, Euston, where staff reported several missing laptops.
Woodward was arrested and held at Bishopsgate Police Station where he made a ‘full and frank confession’.
‘He admitted taking a computer but had sold it on to a man at Tooting Station,’ said Miss Pilling.
‘He carried scissors so he could slit the cables and drop them into his holdall.
‘During the interview he admitted several similar offences he had committed over the last two months.
‘The following day he pointed out locations around the City where he had pinched property.
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Woodward pleaded guilty to five burglaries and admitted 23 similar offences.
He admitted burgling Logica on 10 occasions by brazenly ‘tailgating’ employees into the building and casually picking up a laptop before fleeing the offices.
Sentencing him, Judge Timothy Pontius described his crimes as ‘opportunist offending’ and said it took courage to admit the offences.
He added: ‘Without that confession most of these crimes would not have been solved.
‘Your drug habit seems to be the root of this spell of offending which provides no excuse.
‘Worryingly, you became increasingly dependant on crack cocaine after taking up the habit just one year ago.
‘Your sentence should offer a measure of protection against those who live and work in the City.
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ends
