Silent Crime round-up: Thug jailed over hammer threats; Café thieves use stolen card to buy burgers; serial MOT fraudster admits faking certificates

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Brazen thieves who broke into an Edinburgh café and stole a credit card used the funds to buy burgers at McDonald’s. The group targeted Detour Espresso café in the Marchmont area of the city in the early hours of Sunday, September 29, according to Edinburgh Evening News.

Owner Matt Rees, 55, said that the yobs smashed a rock through the cafe’s window to gain entry, and swiped a business bank card once inside. The group, whom Rees believed to be teenagers, then were caught on CCTV using the card to spend £14 on burgers at a McDonald’s restaurant on Princes Street, with Rees also getting an alert on his mobile that his business card had been used.

He told EEN: ““The police came on Sunday morning and it seems like they know who the culprits are. We couldn't open the shop, so we lost half a day trading on one of our busiest days of the week.”

A man has been jailed after threatening a petrol station worker with a hammer in Mansfield. The Chad reports that Toby Moore, 30, became aggressive after entering the Rosemary street petrol station during the early hours of July 7.

He threatened a staff member in the incident, pulling out a hammer as he partial stepped inside the store with it. He damaged a lock on the door of the petrol station, with the staff member remaining uninjured

Moore went on to smash two rear car windows, as well as windows doors, an external cash machine and a parcel locked on the same night. Officer who arrived at the scene noted that Moore appeared to be drunk.

He pled guilty to affray, threatening a person with an offensive weapon in a public place, and four counts of criminal damage, and has been jailed for one year and four months.

A man who tried to rob a convenience store in Sunderland has avoided jail. The Sunderland Echo reports that Stephen Leach enters a Spar store on Chester Road with two acquaintances on June 23 and demanded “all of the tobacco and all of the money from the till”.

The would-be thief was foiled by the brave shop worker who refused Leach’s demands, with Leach becoming more aggressive and threatening the store worker with a knife. At the same time, Leach’s two acquaintances began robbing the store.

The trio were heard congratulating each other on their way out of the store. Leach was later arrested and admitted charges of attempted robbery, as well possessing crack cocaine and cannabis which was found on him at the time of his arrest. He also failed to provide a drug sample.

Leach, who has a criminal record, was sentenced to two years, suspended for two years, with drug rehabilitation and programme requirements.

A man charged with assaulting a train conductor in Larne is set to have his case sent to the Crown Court.

According to Northern Ireland World, Stephen Weldon, 34, of Inniscarn Drive in Newtownabbey, is charged with attempted grievous bodily harm with intent following the incident at Magheramorne railway halt near Larne on May 8.

The court previously heard that police received a report from passengers of a train conductor being attacked at Magheramorne railway halt. When officers arrived the defendant was still at the scene. The incident was sparked after the conductor allegedly told Weldon to stop vaping onboard, with Weldon allegedly tackling him to the ground after he attempted to give him a vape charger he believed to be Weldon’s. He then dragged the conductor off the train and assaulted him on the platform, striking him "six or seven times" around the head and face by using feet and fists

A PSNI officer said the defendant told police the victim's "attitude was not right and he was just trying to be the Alpha so the defendant showed him who was the bigger Alpha".

A mechanic has admitted to being a serial MOT fraudster, according to Wigan Today.

Stuart Banks, 32, of Concorde Avenue, Hawkley Hall, faced a total of 30 charges under the 2006 Fraud Act after issuing dozens of MOT certificates without carrying out any work. He later admitted to the charges.

The alleged MOTs took place from February 6 to May 17 2023. After entering a guilty plea to all charges, Banks was released on unconditional bail, with sentencing due to take place later this month.

Detectives have named their suspect after a string of burglaries against elderly women in Sandwell, Birmingham and Solihull, reports the Express & Star.

West Midlands Police has said that the suspect, Bernard McDonagh, also known as Bernard Lovell, had disguised himself as a council employee or a water company employee to gain entry to the victims’ homes. One of the reported incident included an 88-year-old woman being allegedly assaulted, with the elderly victim remaining in hospital in a “serious condition”.

A West Midlands Police spokesman said: "Detectives have carried out a number of enquiries and now need to speak to McDonagh.

"If you see him, please call 999 immediately. Information can also be given via Live chat on our website or by calling 101 quoting crime investigation number 20/819250/24. Alternatively, report information anonymously by calling Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111."

Police have released a CCTV image of a man they wish to speak with in relation to an assault in Corby, reports the Northamptonshire Telegraph.

The incident happened on Corporation Street between 11.30am on Sunday, August 18 and 1am on Monday, August 19. A man was allegedly kick and punched several times during the incident.

Anyone with any information on the incident or anyone who recognises the man should contact Northampton Police, phoning 010 and quoting incident number 24000493438.

Police in Sussex have appealed for information following a spate of van break-ins Hailsham and Hellingly. SussexWorld reports that £20,000 worth of tools were stolen from vans in five separate incidents on Tuesday, October 1.

Police believe that the incidents are all linked, saying: "It is thought that there were up to four suspects, who were dressed in masks, gloves and dark clothing. "They broke into the vans and loaded thousands of pounds worth of tools, including cutting saws, grinders, nail guns and drills, into a black estate car, believed to an Audi A6.

"If anyone has any information they should call 101 and quote serial 161 of 2/10.”