Blackpool burglar sentenced for stealing catalytic convertor from dying leukaemia patient’s car
The leukaemia patient whose car they attacked has since died.
A Blackpool burglar who stole the catalytic convertor from a leukaemia patient’s car has been spared jail for a second time.
Mark Brennan was handed a 20-month suspended prison sentence in March for a string of offences including targeting the vehicle which the man relied on to get to urgent medical appointments.
But when he appeared in court at Preston this week for breaching the conditions of that order a judge decided not to invoke the sentence and fined him instead.
The 41-year-old was one of two men who went on a theft and burglary spree over a three-week period in 2023, stealing two vans, car parts, tools and cash in raids across North Wales.
They were eventually arrested and appeared before Caernarfon Crown Court in March this year for a string of offences including five counts of theft, four of burglary and one of attempted burglary.
Both men – 42-year-old Steven Cosgrove from Widnes was Brennan’s co-accused - were given 20-month prison sentences suspended for two years. The leukaemia patient whose car they attacked has since died.
At Preston Crown Court this week prosecuting barrister Richard Bennett said Brennan had failed to attend an unpaid work appointment and also failed to recharge his electronic ankle monitoring tag.
Mr Bennett said that after the breach Brennan had since attended all his appointments and there had been no further GPS violations.
“This is a suspended sentence and the court will have to decide whether to invoke (it) in part or whole.”
He added the probation service had reported Brennan had achieved only medium compliance with the order, but they had recommended a financial penalty as punishment.
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Adam Quine, representing Brennan, said his client didn’t seek to mitigate his offence. “He makes no excuses – he didn’t attend.”
He had also been warned he needed to charge the battery on a regular basis.
“He was not at home (when the battery ran out). When he got home he recharged it. He has a charger and was told he needed to take it with him at all times. Prior to this he was making steady progress.”
Mr Quine said Brennan, of Peel Avenue, Blackpool was now working part-time as a cleaner at a hotel in the resort.
Recorder Siddiqi told him the breaches had been “relatively minor” and said she could step back from invoking the suspended sentence.
She added the probation service had said they could work with him and suggested a financial penalty instead.
She asked Brennan: “If I give you a chance are you going to do what you are meant to do?” He answered “yes.”
She fined him £200 and ordered him to pay £102 court costs but warned him he would face jail if he breached the suspended sentence again or failed to pay the fine.