Michael Sayers, a 50-year-old serial burglar with 51 previous theft offences, used an electric grinder to break into a safe at Tomahawk restaurant on Newcastle's Quayside, stealing up to £4,500. He was captured on CCTV entering the premises on May 25 and forcing open a till drawer before drilling into the safe.
Details of the burglary
Prosecutor Glenda Beck told Newcastle Magistrates' Court that the manager of Tomahawk was alerted to an intruder. CCTV showed Sayers entering a staff-only office, taking £100 from the till, and then using an electric grinder to drill a hole in the safe. He took a further £4,500, though Sayers disputed the amount, claiming it was £3,500.
Impact on the business
In a business impact statement, the manager said: "As a business, this was a week's worth of cash payments and it has had an impact on the business." The theft represented a significant loss for the popular Quayside restaurant.
Sayers' criminal history
Janice Hall, defending, said Sayers made full admissions and cooperated with police. The court heard he has a long criminal record, with 51 offences for theft alone. He was last jailed in February 2021 for six months for multiple burglaries. Magistrates adjourned the case for a pre-sentence report and released Sayers on conditional bail, prohibiting him from entering Tomahawk, until July 16.
