Sunderland pair who raided Mercedes Benz garage twice in one week hit with £5,000 compensation bill

Police have reassured businesses that officers will continue to have a ‘zero-tolerance approach’ towards burglars after Shaun Ellwood, 48, and Daniel Fletcher, 28, were both convicted of the Wearside break-ins.

They first broke into the Wessington Way premises on the night of April 12, climbing into the body shop compound before making off with various items including a drill and spray paint guns.

Six days later, at around 6pm on April 18, they returned and stole £3,000 worth of alloy wheels and tyres.

The pair both admitted two counts of burglary when they appeared before magistrates in South Tyneside on April 22.

They returned to the same court on Monday, May 18, for sentencing where Ellwood, of Ravenswood Square, Sunderland, was jailed for 12 months and ordered to pay £2,500 compensation to Mercedes-Benz.

His partner-in crime, Fletcher, of Joyce Terrace, Sunderland, received an eight-month sentence suspended for 18 months. He was also ordered to pay £2,500 compensation to the garage and handed a 12-week curfew.

Detective Chief Inspector Michelle Robson, of Northumbria Police, welcomed the conviction.

She commented: “This was a swift and thorough investigation carried out by an experienced team of detectives, and I’m pleased that these two thieves have now been brought to justice.

“We know that the last few months have been a difficult time for some business owners, some of whom have had to close their premises due to the Covid-19 restrictions.

“During this period, we have seen a small number of cases where business premises that have been left isolated have been targeted by opportunistic criminals looking to capitalise.

“My message to all business owners is one of reassurance. Officers continue to patrol industrial parks and identified commercial areas to keep your premises safe, and ensure anybody who does break the law has their day in court.

“This case reinforces our commitment to disrupting, detecting and preventing this type of criminality. We have a dedicated burglary team who review every break-in across Wearside and South Tyneside, and they will continue to pursue perpetrators and bring offenders to justice.”

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