A prolific burglar is back in prison after neighbourhood officers found crucial evidence that helped secure a string of convictions.
Alan Webster targeted five commercial premises in Nottingham city centre during the early hours on separate mornings, including a restaurant, two pubs, a coffee shop, and a beauty salon.
Nottingham Crown Court heard that the three-week crime spree began on 27 October, when the 40-year-old gained access to The Barrel Drop in Hurts Yard by kicking through a door panel, causing £400 worth of damage. He then climbed into the pub and stole a bottle of port worth £15.
On 2 November, he smashed a window at Eyebrow Gallery in Trinity Square and stole £50 from the till. The court heard that this burglary caused over £500 worth of damage.
He struck again at Le Bistro Pierre on Milton Street on 7 November – stealing approximately £30 from a till and a large quantity of alcohol. To gain entry, he smashed a window, causing over £700 worth of damage, including breaking a lock to the manager’s office and damaging the CCTV system.
The next burglary took place at the Horn in the Hand pub on Goldsmith Street on 10 November. Webster smashed a window and cut CCTV cables before fleeing with £700 in cash, a quantity of alcohol, and a Sky television box.
Four days later, he burgled the 200 Degrees coffee shop in Flying Horse Walk. On this occasion, he kicked through a fire exit door and damaged an alarm system. It is not clear whether anything was stolen, but the incident left the business with a costly repair bill.
Elsewhere, the court heard that Webster also broke into Subway on Corn Market in Derby on 14 August and stole a till drawer containing approximately £100 in cash.
Webster – who was previously jailed in 2022 for burgling a string of businesses in Derby city centre – was arrested after patrolling officers spotted him in Nottingham city centre on 26 November.
He was already the prime suspect in the spate of commercial burglaries after being identified on CCTV footage. Vital evidence was secured when the arresting officers seized clothing that matched what was seen in CCTV footage of one of the burglaries.
Further damning evidence was obtained when blood found at the scene of The Barrel Drop burglary was matched to Webster’s DNA.
Webster, of Cobden Street, Derby, pleaded guilty to all six burglaries, as well as theft, after admitting to stealing sentimental jewellery from his mother to fund his drug addiction.
He appeared at Nottingham Crown Court via video link on Friday (14 March) and was jailed for three years.
Following the sentencing, Sergeant Chris Johnson of the City Centre neighbourhood policing team said:
“This result only goes to prove that if you commit this type of crime, you will be caught and convicted.
“I hope this sentence will provide closure to the businesses affected by the crimes committed by Webster, who will now be spending a significant amount of time behind bars.
“We are absolutely committed as a force to doing whatever we can to eradicate retail crime, as we know the impact it has on businesses and their employees.”
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