Northwich man jailed for 18 weeks following local crime spree

A Northwich man who committed a series of offences across the town has been jailed for 18 weeks.

Benjamin Gibney appeared at Chester Magistrates’ Court on Thursday 16 September where he pleaded guilty to theft of a vehicle, two counts of theft from a vehicle, fraud and driving while disqualified and without a licence. 

The 33-year-old,  of Park Street, was also recalled to prison in relation to previous offences. 

Gibney’s crime spree began in the early hours of Tuesday 14 September when he stole a silver Citroen C1 which was parked outside an address on Hemming Street.

From there he went on to break into a car and a van on Solvay Road and stole a number of items including tools, a Mont Blanc watch and bank cards.

Then, at 6.45am, Gibney visited RS Stores on Royal Street where he purchased a number of items using the bank cards he stole from the car on Solvay Road.

The incidents were reported to police and Gibney was quickly identified and arrested after officers recognised him from the CCTV footage at RS Stores.

Police Constable Adam Cupples, from Northwich Local Policing Unit, said: “ I welcome the quick conclusion of this case and I hope it acts as a warning to others. 

“In this case the evidence against Gibney was overwhelming. Not only did officers recognise him on the CCTV footage, but when we attended his address to arrests him he was actually wearing the Mont Blanc watch which he had stolen just hours before. 

“In addition, we also found the key to the stolen car at his address, and when we later located the stolen vehicle in Castle, the remaining stolen items were found inside– all of which have now been reunited with their rightful owners.”