A burglar who stole nearly 100 pairs of designer glasses worth up to £11,000 from a Cardiff optician has been jailed.
David Farr pleaded guilty to committing the burglary at Chalmers Opticians in Albany Road after he was caught with a crowbar, balaclava, gloves and bag full of spectacles.
Sentencing at Cardiff Crown Court on Thursday, Judge Eleri Rees described his criminal record as “appalling”.
The court heard the incident occurred overnight on July 26, putting him in breach of a suspended sentence for another burglary and a community order for battery.
'Lunged' with crowbar
Prosecutor Ieuan Morris said Farr, 44, from Arabella Street in Roath , stole two laptops worth £2,400, as well as “expensive” designer sunglasses.
Mr Morris said the defendant took 25 pairs of Prada glasses, worth £80 each, and 60 pairs of Oakley glasses, worth between £60 and £150 a pair.
The prosecutor said the total value of items stolen was between £8,000 and £13,000. The court heard a police officer saw the lights were on in the shop and spotted the defendant carrying a bag. Mr Morris said the defendant “lunged” at the police officer with a crowbar that was about eight inches long.
Farr denied affray, but admitted causing fear of violence.
When searched, he was found to be carrying a bag full of glasses, as well as the crowbar, a balaclava and a pair of gloves. The prosecutor said Farr did not act alone, but no one else was arrested. He added not all of the property was recovered.
'Serious burglary'
Mr Morris said: “His antecedent history is littered with previous convictions for dishonesty and violence.”
The prosecutor added he had appeared before the court 45 times for 165 offences, including multiple burglaries. Farr was also sentenced for disorderly behaviour, after being committed by the magistrates’ court on July 1 following a guilty plea.
The court heard he was drunk on Queen Street on May 12 and when approached by a police officer, used “vile” language and tried to push her.
Nicholas Gareth Jones, defending, said his client had overcome drug addiction, but was still battling alcohol dependency.
He added: “The Probation Service clearly thought he was doing well.” But he conceded: “He accepts it is a serious commercial burglary.”
Farr was sentenced to two years in prison.
see-http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/local-news/burglar-stole-nearly-100-pairs-11800639
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