WATCH: Gatwick Hotel Burglar Jailed

Wednesday, 30 August 2023 16:13

A man who broke into a hotel near Gatwick and poured himself a pint has been jailed after video footage caught him in the act.

The 25-year-old admitted burglary and shoplifting at Brighton Magistrates’ Court earlier this month.

The court was told how Harry Rose, formerly of Wayside, Ifield, Crawley, entered a Marks and Spencer store at the North Terminal at 11.25pm on February 20 this year.

His friend Connor Gooderson, 21, of Massetts Road, Horley, also entered the store, and together they took steaks, cold meats, protein bars, and cans of fizzy drinks, without paying for them.

Then in the early hours of February 21 they forced open the doors of a nearby hotel, with Gooderson acting as a lookout while Rose entered a closed bar area.

He was seen on CCTV stealing bottles of spirits from behind the bar, and even poured himself a glass of beer while he rummaged around the till area.

A hotel staff member interrupted them and when challenged, Rose dropped the bag of stolen spirits, worth over £450, and left the hotel.

He was arrested minutes later inside the terminal by officers, and claimed he needed to steal to pay off debts owed by his father to an unknown man.

Both Rose and Gooderson admitted theft from a shop and burglary at the magistrates’ court hearing on August 7.

Rose was sentenced to eight weeks in prison and was ordered to pay £50 in compensation.

Gooderson was sentenced to a community order requiring him to complete 20 hours of unpaid work and ten rehabilitation activity requirement (RAR) sessions. He must also pay £204 compensation, £85 court costs and a £114 surcharge.

Speaking after the case, Detective Sergeant Ian Warncken from Gatwick CID said:

“Burglary and shop theft causes disruption for businesses and causes concern for the staff who work in them.

“We work alongside Gatwick Airport and businesses here to both prevent crime and to ensure the safety of the public.

“This case shows our determination to catch offenders and ensure that we reduce the harm and disruption they cause.”