Dawlish News
Man admits £5,000 devon crime spree
Four air rifles worth £1,600 were among the haul of a Paignton man who went on a crime spree across Devon.
More than £2,000 worth of cosmetics were also stolen by Robert Francis, 49, of Hoxton Road, Paignton.Exeter Crown Court heard the air rifles were stolen from Ladd's of Crediton and by the time the owner realised what had happened, Francis had taken the guns and was speeding off in a getaway car.
Later two people in another vehicle came up behind a silver Mondeo which was parked in the middle of the road between Crediton and Tedburn St Mary with the doors wide open.
Prosecutor Ayse Vahiboglu said as the couple in the car watched two men got into the Mondeo and drove off. The man and woman went to investigate and found two of the air rifles abandoned in the hedge. A police search of the area later revealed the other two weapons.
The court heard Francis stole cosmetics from Boots stores in Dawlish and Torquay and also raided premises at Kingsteignton, Marsh Barton trading estate in Exeter, a building supplies company in Cowley Bridge Road, Exeter, and Dart's Farm at Clyst St George.
In all more than £5,000 of property was stolen during Francis' crime spree which spanned a period of more than eight months.
