Llanelli burglar raided eight stores in crime spree over two nights

A MAN broke into eight businesses in Carmarthen town centre during a two night spree, a court heard.

He either battered down the doors or smashed the windows with a brick, magistrates were told.

The 26-year-old Llanelli man targeted Wimpy in Guildhall Square, sandwich shop Pak-a-Snak, Ryman stationery shop in Darkgate and Siswrn hairdressers, just down the road from Lime Grove Avenue.

Break-ins

He also asked for the court to take into account break-ins at Mansel Street clothes shop Ro-Ro-Retro and Carmarthen Dental Lab in Spilman Street.

Appearing before the court Nicky Charles James Lewis, of Gelli Road, Bryn, pleaded guilty to the six charges of burglary and asked for two other burglary charges to be taken into account, all taking place between Friday, February 18, and Sunday, February 20.

He also pleaded guilty to resisting arrest and damaging a glass door at the Wetherspoon pub in King Street — which Carmarthen Magistrates' Court heard he smashed while trying to escape from the police last Tuesday afternoon.

Prosecutor Gerald Neave said CCTV captured an image of Lewis carrying a for sale sign and wooden post towards the back door of Wimpy. Five minutes later the door was smashed and Lewis was seen coming and going twice more between Bull Lane and the Plume of Feathers pub.

A pay-phone was stolen, emptied of cash, and found dumped in Quay Street, Mr Neave said.

The court heard that a footprint matching Lewis' shoe was discovered at Pak-a-Snak, where the shop's CCTV recorder was stolen.

At Siswrn hairdressers, Lewis stole the till cash box and �100 in cash from Carmarthen Dental Lab, Mr Neave added.

Defence solicitor Aled Owen said Lewis had taken very little money, adding: "These are very serious offences and he's put a lot of people out but if you look at the majority of these premises he took nothing at all."

The magistrates ruled that their powers were insufficient to sentence Lewis and transferred the case to the Crown Court. He will be sentenced on April 15.

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