Thief caught stealing lead from opticians roof

Callum Hughes, 22, scaled Sight opticians, in Shiney Row, just as police were walking past, Sunderland magistrates heard.

Prosecutor John McGlone said two officers had been walking along Osmund Terrace at 1.15am on February 28, when they spotted Hughes jump from the top of a bay window and run off.

He was eventually apprehended by a police dog and handler who were called to the scene.

Mr McGlone said a receptionist at the practice had arrived for work later that morning and discovered lead flashing above the front bay window has been taken.

He added: “It is estimated to cost in excess of £300.”

A victim statement, said: “We will have to get the repairs carried out as soon as possible.

“We have to go through the insurance company to do this and it may have an impact on the insurance premium costs.”

Hughes, of Hunter Street, Shiney Row, admitted theft.

Emma Turner, defending, said Hughes had been off work since a serious assault left him with a bleed on the brain, and that he had committed the offence “due to peer pressure and being in financial difficulty”.

“He has no recollection of being on the roof.”

The bench increased the operational period of an existing suspended sentence to two years.

Hughes will also be subject to an 8pm to 7am curfew from Saturday to Tuesday, for a year.

He was also ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work.

He was told to pay £250 in compensation, £85 costs and a £60 surcharge.