Accrington drug addict snatched £100 from Tesco ATM

Gary Ward, 36, committed a string of other offences as he struggled with a heroin addiction.

He admitted to theft, a burglary at Oswaldtwistle Mills with intent to steal, theft of coins from Abbey Street Collectors Centre, and theft of sweets worth £30 from Heron Foods.

Ward, of Frederick Street, Accrington, was sentenced at Burnley Crown Court on Monday, April 15, having initially appeared at Blackburn Magistrates’ Court in March.

At that time, Suzanne Ludlow, prosecuting, said Ward went into Abbey Street Collectibles in Accrington and asked to look at a tray of coins.

Gary Ward (Image: Lancashire Police)

She said he picked up the tray and announced he was taking it before leaving the shop.

He was later identified from CCTV footage.

Later at Oswaldtwistle Mills in Colliers Street, CCTV showed Ward enter the café area before it had opened one morning. He tried to get into a till but left.

Footage outside Tesco in Accrington showed Ward loitering nearby while someone was withdrawing cash from the ATM.

When the cash, £100 in notes, was dispensed, Ward grabbed it and ran off.

Damien Pickup, mitigating, said Ward was in the middle of a “very serious heroin addiction” and wished to apologise to the people affected by his actions.

Ward was sentenced to 10 months in prison.