A prolific burglar has been jailed after stealing charity boxes from stores in Chippenham.

Dean Cochrane, 43, of no fixed abode, smashed through windows to steal charity boxes from the Pasty Cove on Monday, April 29 and Iceland on Tuesday, April 30.

He was previously jailed for a similar offence when he used two rocks to smash a cafe window and steal a cancer charity tin.

Chippenham Sergeant, Jamie Ball said: “Cochrane is a prolific thief and burglar and it’s despicable that he has targeted the charity boxes in stores."

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Wiltshire Times: Dean Cochrane, 43, of no fixed abode, smashed through windows to steal charity boxes from Iceland

Following an investigation by officers, Cochrane was arrested, charged and remanded into custody for the offences, as well as thefts from two supermarkets in Chippenham and supermarkets in Warminster and Bradford on Avon.

He pleaded guilty to all offences and on Saturday, May 4 at Swindon Magistrates’ Court and was sentenced to 46 weeks in prison.

Cochrane previously used two rocks to smash the front door of Sarah Jayne’s Café in Chippenham's Market Place at approximately 1.30am on February 11 last year.

Wiltshire Times:

The then 42-year-old then took a collection tin for RSPCA and a cancer charity with an unknown amount of money inside and ran off.

He was then sent to jail for nine months and ordered to pay £750 in compensation, plus £85 of court costs and £187 to fund victim services.

Sergeant Ball said at the time: “Cochrane’s actions devastated the café owners, who were left picking up the pieces following his selfish actions.

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"The charity tin stolen was collecting money for a cancer charity and the RSPCA – extremely important charities which the public had donated to in good faith.

“Behaviour of this nature will not be tolerated and our officers will leave no stone unturned in investigating and identifying offenders, ensuring they are put before the courts and sentenced for their actions."

Sergeant Ball said after the latest sentencing: “Thanks to intelligence from the stores and the local community, we were able to arrest and charge Cochrane within just a couple of days of him burgling the stores, and I’m pleased he has already been sentenced for his crimes, for which there can be no justification.

Wiltshire Times: Iceland in Chippenham, from where charity boxes were stolen

“We are fortunate that the number of burglaries, including for businesses, in Chippenham is relatively low.

“However, this incident shows that when burglaries do take place, it is taken incredibly seriously.

“We will always endeavour to swiftly work with the businesses targeted to gather the evidence and ensure the perpetrators are brought to justice.”