Burglar jailed after stealing booze from Sunderland pub during lockdown

A man who burgled a landmark pub and restaurant during lockdown has been locked up.
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

Michael Lee Hazard broke into the Toby Carvery at The Barnes, in Durham Road, Sunderland, and stole £1,000 worth of booze and electrical equipment.

A court has now imprisoned him for 12 weeks after studying his previous record and because of the “financial hardship” the raid had caused the business.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Hazard, 38, of no fixed address, admitted committing the July 1 burglary when he appeared at South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court on Monday of this week.

Michael Hazard, left, has been jailed for a lockdown raid on Sunderland's Toby Carvery at The Barnes.Michael Hazard, left, has been jailed for a lockdown raid on Sunderland's Toby Carvery at The Barnes.
Michael Hazard, left, has been jailed for a lockdown raid on Sunderland's Toby Carvery at The Barnes.

He was also ordered to pay £500 compensation at a rate of £20 a month from the end of October.

The authorities have recognised the concerns of businesses worried about the security of their premises since the March 23 coronavirus lockdown.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Hughes, 35, of Tadcaster Road, Thorney Close, Sunderland, and Liddle, 50, of Downham Court, South Shields, must also pay a £128 victim surcharge each.

Michael Hazard has been jailed for three months after breaking into the Toby Carvery at The Barnes, in Durham Road, Sunderland, during lockdown.Michael Hazard has been jailed for three months after breaking into the Toby Carvery at The Barnes, in Durham Road, Sunderland, during lockdown.
Michael Hazard has been jailed for three months after breaking into the Toby Carvery at The Barnes, in Durham Road, Sunderland, during lockdown.

Two accomplices, Kevin Jordan Marrs, 33, of Oxford Street, Pallion, Sunderland, and Grant McCormack, 35, whose address was given as Ashfields Court, Sunderland, were ordered to pay similar sums after they received suspended jail terms for attempted burglary following the same trial.

Northumbria Police said afterwards: “We will not tolerate this kind of behaviour and we will continue to put thieves before the courts.”

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

The Toby Carvery at The Barnes, Sunderland, was targeted by burglar Michael Hazard during lockdown.The Toby Carvery at The Barnes, Sunderland, was targeted by burglar Michael Hazard during lockdown.
The Toby Carvery at The Barnes, Sunderland, was targeted by burglar Michael Hazard during lockdown.

In order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news on this free-to-read site, I am asking you to also please purchase a copy of our newspaper.

Our journalists are highly trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the most rigorous standards in the world. But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. So we need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers - and consequently the advertising that we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news and information by buying a copy of our newspaper.

Thank you.

How to subscribe to the print edition:

It’s easy to subscribe to your local newspaper. We have arranged a special 20 per cent off subscription offer for people to take advantage of.

Visit www.localsubsplus.co.uk, choose the newspaper title, the type of subscription and enter your details.