A 45-year-old man from Havant who committed a string of offences across the Isle of Wight, including burglary and fraud, has been jailed for 4-and-a-half years.
Lucas Beau Corke, of Barncroft Way in Havant, has been the subject of a lengthy Police investigation looking into no less than 4 burglaries, 7 counts of fraud by false representation and 1 theft carried out over a period of 2 years.
Corke appeared at Southampton Crown Court on Monday (8th November) charged with:
- Theft from motor vehicle on Thursday 5th December 2019, after a bag and wallet containing cash and bank cards were stolen from a car parked along Ryde seafront
- Burglary at Sea View Yacht Club on 7th December 2019
- Burglary at Aspire Ryde on Dover Street on 9th December 2019, during which some cash was stolen
- Burglary at an address on Bouldnor Road, Yarmouth on 21st August 2021 during which wallets containing cash and bank cards were stolen
- Burglary at the Osborne View Hotel in Hill Head (mainland) on 8th September 2021, in which handbags containing bank cards were stolen
On the occasions in which bank cards were stolen this year, Corke used these cards to buy goods from shops and bars in Gosport and on the Isle of Wight, for which he was charged with 7 counts of fraud by false representation. The cards were used as follows:
- 21st August 2021 – Harvey’s in Yarmouth, Yarmouth bus station and Hunnyhill Stores in Newport
- 24th August 2021 – Co-Op in Bembridge
- 8th September 2021 – Bayside Cabin and Pebble’s Wine Bar on Stokes Road in Gosport and The Star Pub on Gosport High Street
Corke pleaded guilty to all of the offences and was jailed for a total of 54 months.
PC Nickie Moreton, from the Isle of Wight Investigation Team, said:
“Corke’s offending in this case was brazen, often walking into premises and stealing goods in daylight hours whilst people were nearby.
“Unfortunately for him, a thorough investigation involving the review of CCTV, financial enquiries and identifying witnesses enabled us to place Corke at the scene of each of these crimes.
Article continues below this advertisement “I’m pleased that he has now been brought to justice for these incidents, and I hope this reassures the public that we will follow every line of enquiry possible to capture those who offend in this way.”
Raising the contactless limit to £100 will bring more of these vermin up from underground.
You can set your own limit with some providers. I think they should all offer it.
What a breath of fresh air from Southampton crown court.Take note all island magistrates, and start to dish out meaningful sentences for people who disregard the law .Time, and time again the low life’s get away with nothing short of a slap on the wrist for this type of offence on the island .Time to step up me thinks.