A man from Birmingham has been jailed following an investigation by Congleton Local Police Unit into the theft of more than £11,000 worth of cigarettes and tobacco from shops across three counties.

Michael Mongan, of no fixed address appeared at Chester Crown Court on 3 July to be sentenced after pleading guilty to five counts of theft from a shop. A further charge of theft was to remain on file.

Mongan was sentenced to 29 months in jail for stealing £11,086.60 of goods including tobacco and alcohol from shops in Middlewich, Knutsford, Wrexham, Ely, Audlem, and Sandbach.

On 7 February he stole tobacco and cigarettes from the One Stop Shop on High Street, Ely, Cambridgeshire worth £2,581.95.

Then on 19 February the 27-year-old went into the Overton convenience store in Salop Road, Wrexham and stole cigarettes to the value of £3,913.86. He was identified as the culprit through facial recognition.

On Wednesday 25 February he entered to Co-Op store in Audlem and stole £3,173.40.

The same day he targeted the Co-Op on Parkgate Lane, Knutsford where he took £1,438.24 worth of cigarettes and tobacco.

Then on 26 February he stole £1,819.50 worth of cigarettes and tobacco from Morrisons Daily Store on Poplar Drive, Middlewich, and on 7 March stole £741.60 of cigarettes, tobacco and alcohol from the Co-Op on Middlewich Road, Sandbach.

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PC James Rowley said: "Following extensive CCTV enquiries and cross border enquiries, we were able to identify Mongan as one of two males who had targeted the shops in a month-long spree.

"Now he is paying the price for his actions and will spend the foreseeable future behind bars. Mongan initially entered a not-guilty plea, eventually changing this due to our commitment to strengthen the case and bring him to justice."

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