He got off with a suspended sentence for smashing a Starbucks window in Peterborough, but the following day was arrested again and recalled to prison. Such was the fate of Lee Chignell who was caught by CCTV smashing the window with a glass bottle in the early hours of October 20.
Chignell, 33, of no fixed address, was spotted by cameras smashing the window before walking around with a metal pole he had stolen earlier from a Peterborough restaurant.
He appeared at Peterborough magistrates’ court on Monday (21 October), where he was sentenced to 10 weeks in prison, suspended for a year, after admitting criminal damage, possession of offensive weapon in a public place and theft, having stolen the metal pole from Middletons Steakhouse in Bridge Street.
However, after being released from court, the following day he was arrested again and recalled to prison.
PC Oliver Thomas, who investigated, said: “When officers arrived, Chignell threw the glass bottle at them, but fortunately it missed.
“Thankfully we were able to arrest him before he committed any further crime that night.”
Chignell was arrested during Safer Business Action Week – a national campaign dedicated to tackling retail crime such as theft and criminal damage against businesses.
CCTV footage and police body worn footage of the incident was released today by Cambs Police.
