Notts burglar escaped as accomplice drove car into security guard

CCTV recorded Stuart Short opening the gates at the site of an EE TV mast, on Woodthorpe Road, Mapperley, so a white Vauxhall Astra could be driven in, on June 7, 2018.

When the father and son owners of the firm that installed the CCTV noticed one of the cameras had been disabled they drove to the site and found the burglars loading batteries into the car.

"Short's accomplice drove the Corsa straight at the younger man throwing him on to the bonnet," said prosecutor Joey Kwong. "He slammed on the brakes which threw Mr Davidson off the bonnet."

Short made his escape and the driver remains unidentified.

In total, 12 batteries, worth £4,200, were stolen, and £12,200 of damage was caused to the gate and door at the compound.

While on bail, Short broke into the same Ilkeston timber merchants twice within the same fortnight.

He was again caught on CCTV, breaking into Soar Valley Timber Ltd, on the Bellfield Industrial Estate, on March 1, this year, and stealing £300 cash from the tin and tools worth £300. He caused £220 of damage to fencing and a window.

On March 14, he broke in again and took £300 in cash and £190 of tools, causing £135 of damage.

On Thursday, Nottingham Crown Court heard that Short has 37 thefts, including 15 burglaries, on his record.

Steven Ramsell, mitigating, said Short has served 20 weeks in prison since June 2018, and was released from his last sentence in January this year, but "went straight back to the drugs world."

"He is now clean. His partner is expecting a child."

Short, 45, of Lodge Road, Newthorpe, pleaded guilty to the burglaries and criminal damage.

Judge Timothy Spencer QC told Short: "Sadly you have fallen back into heroin use. I have sympathy. But the way you funded that habit was to return to being a professional burglar.”

He handed Short 22 months in prison.