City centre burglar ‘changed his mind’ and left shop empty-handed

A man who broke into Ben’s Cookies in Union Passage in Bath but left empty-handed after changing his mind about stealing was sentenced by city magistrates on Monday, 20th October.

At a previous court appearance, Paul Bryant, 45, of Dutton Road in Stockwood in Bristol, had admitted entering the shop as a trespasser with intent to steal, and proceedings were adjourned for a pre-sentence report.

The court heard that after being identified from CCTV, Bryant, who has previous convictions, had been interviewed by police and made a “full and frank admission”.

He told them he had been walking past the shop on the evening of 18th February when he noticed a big gap in the door and had pushed his key into it, damaging the lock.

Once inside, he had a look around for money but thought “this is not me” and “changed his mind”. The alarm went off as he shut the door.

Magistrates imposed a 12-month community order which includes a nine-month Mental Health Treatment Requirement with five rehabilitation activity requirement (RAR) days.

Bryant was fined £80 and ordered to pay a £114 surcharge and £85 prosecution costs.

He must also pay £50 compensation towards the cost of repairing the damage to the lock at the shop.