Hapless Sunderland burglars jailed for botched JD Sports ram-raid at Durham retail park

Two hapless burglars have been jailed for carrying out a botched ram-raid on a sports shop in Durham.

Jordan Douglas, 34, and Mark Riddell, 42, used a car to smash into the front of a JD Sports store at the Arnison Centre and attempted to make off with over £3,400 worth of goods. But the "terrible job" resulted in the pair being arrested within minutes of the raid as police soon turned up after capturing them on CCTV.

The ram-raid caused "extensive damage" to the store and both men have now been put behind bars for the "reckless" offence. The pair appeared at Durham Crown Court on Tuesday via links from HMP Durham and HMP Leeds to be sentenced for burglary.

• Read more: South Shields FC say fans have suffered 'high level of emotional trauma' after horror A1 crash

• Keep up to date with all the latest court news from the North East with our free newsletter

Douglas, of East Vines, Hendon, Sunderland, was also sentenced for separate matters of criminal damage, possession of an offensive weapon and failing to attend court. Those offences related to an incident dating back to August 9 last year.

Shada Mellor, prosecuting, said the men committed the ram-raid at around 11.20pm on March 17 after the JD Sports store had been closed and locked for the night. The store was also boarded up with wood from a previous ram-raid.

She said: "CCTV was covering the shop and police were alerted that there had been a vehicle rammed through the shutters of the shop and that two males were inside. Douglas was arrested trying to flee the scene and Riddell, who was intoxicated, was found on the ground hiding behind a shopping trolley."

The court heard the total value of goods that the pair attempted to steal was £3,414, and "extensive damage" of a value unknown had been caused to the store. Ms Mellor said Douglas had 20 previous convictions for 47 offences. Riddell had 33 previous convictions for 67 offences, many of which were for burglary. He was also on licence at the time after being given a 52 month prison sentence for burglary.

Douglas was also sentenced for offences committed in the Thorney Close area of Sunderland on August 9 last year. Ms Mellor told the court a man was asleep at his home when he was woken up in the early hours of the morning by his son, who told him his car windows were being smashed.

She said: "He went outside and saw the defendant at the garden gate with a hammer in his hand. The defendant shouted 'show me your hands'. [The victim] was confused and held up his hands. The defendant started asking about a male who used to be in a relationship with his partner. [The victim] was confused and asked him what he was talking about."

Douglas, who was "under the influence of substances", then began to apologise to the man - who went back inside his home. But he then heard more glass smashing and saw a "large piece of wood" on his living room floor.

When the man and his partner went back outside, Douglas was holding a whiskey bottle, which he smashed, and walked towards them in "an aggressive manner". Ms Mellor said: "He approached them with a broken bottle, leaving them in fear they would be harmed. [The victim] noticed all the windows on his van and a window on his car had been damaged."

Damage had also been caused to a living room window and the front door windows, the court heard. Ms Mellor said the total cost of damage amounted to around £4,000. Douglas then failed to show up to court on August 23.

Speaking of the criminal damage offence, Sophie Allinson-Howells, defending Douglas, told the court he "acknowledges this was in some way a revenge attack for a serious assault he suffered". She said: "He has struggled with substance misuse for a period of time."

Ms Allinson-Howells said Douglas also sustained a serious hand injury in the attack and that there is a possibility it could be amputated, adding: "He feels he is not receiving the level of care he requires in the custodial setting." The court was told that the ram-raid was a "crude attempt" and that police were on scene within minutes.

Katie Spencer, defending Riddell, of Felstead Square, Ford Estate, Sunderland, told the court that following his release from his last prison sentence, he "didn't feel like he had anywhere to fit in" and that he may suffer from PTSD. She said: "He understands this business will have suffered a loss and he is ashamed of that."

She added that the ram-raid was a "terrible job" and that police attended within minutes, saying: "The ram-raid doesn't seem to work for some time. It was very impulsive and there is no evidence of a significant degree of planning, other than they attended with a car. Not a great deal of thought went into this."

Sentencing the pair, Judge Robert Adams said the ram-raid was a "reckless act that caused a lot of damage". Douglas was jailed for two years and Riddell was jailed for 16 months.