A 25-YEAR-OLD man was part of a ‘team’ who travelled to Blackburn and attempted to steal a trolley-load of goods worth £914.

Blackburn magistrates heard a female loaded the trolley in TK Maxx and then pushed it to the door where Peter Jonathan Quinn took over.

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Quinn, of Crosby Road, Newton Heath, Manchester, pleaded guilty to theft from TK Maxx. He was jailed for 12 weeks and ordered to pay £115 victim surcharge on release.

Catherine Allan, prosecuting, said the offence had all the hallmarks of professional shoplifting.

“It was a group enterprise and the offenders had travelled from Manchester specifically to carry out the pre-planned offence,” said Miss Allan.

She said the female, who Quinn refused to name, had gone round the store and then went to the door where she met Quinn. He then took the trolley out of the store but was detained outside.

Miss Allan said the defendant had similar convictions at Manchester, Kirklees and Sheffield courts and clearly travelled to commit offences.

“He was only released from prison in September and his licence doesn’t expire until December 7.”

Colleen Dickinson-Jones, defending, said her client claimed to be under pressure from other people to commit offences because he owed them money.

“There would have been no personal gain from the offence, it would simply have paid off a debt.”