January sentencing for burglar caught in crackdown

Christopher Kershaw, 28, of Marsden Road, Blackpool, was arrested and charged on suspicion of two counts of burglary relating to break-ins at supermarkets, convenience stores and newsagents in Blackpool, Poulton, Lytham and St Annes during October and November this year.

He appeared at Blackpool Magistrates’ Court on Friday, November 29, where he was found guilty of both charges, and he is now due to be sentenced at Preston Crown Court on Thursday, January 9 next year.

He was arrested as part of Operation Julius, a week of action to tackle burglary which saw 14 warrants executed, seizures of substantial amounts of drugs and money suspected to have been earned from illegal activity and eight people were arrested in Blackpool.

Among the arrests made were a 15-year-old boy believed to be responsible for 21 house burglaries and thefts. He was charged on suspicion of six of the offences.

He has been remanded on bail and is due to appear at Blackpool Youth Court his week.

A number of suspected drug offenders were also arrested, and charged or bailed pending further enquiries during the week on suspicion of possession of or intent to supply Class A or B drugs.

In addition, around £12,000 was seized from two addresses believed to belong to two principal members of an organised criminal gang.

A substantial amount of heroin and crack cocaine, was also seized.

Blackpool South Shore Neighbourhood Policing Team conducted a ‘lockdown’ on Central Drive, Lytham Road and Waterloo Road last Wednesday.

In total, 42 people were stopped, 16 of them were searched and three were arrested. As part of an operation set up to handle the cash-in-transit offences in the area in recent months, premises were also visited to check their security arrangements.

Operation Julius was launched on October 1 and is aimed at preventing crime, targeting criminals and detecting burglaries across the county.

It will run for three months until the New Year.

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