Twenty-two-year-old Daniel Thomas Fairlie, of Chestnut Way, Mount Estate, Milford Haven, appeared at Haverfordwest Magistrates Court on Tuesday, jointly charged with 29-year-old Dean Phillips, of Castle Street, Pennar, of entering Tenby Taxis, as trespassers with intent to steal.
An arrest warrant was issued for Mr. Phillips who failed to appear in court for the hearing.
Prosecutor Abul Hussain told the court that the incident occurred during the early hours of Monday, August 7, 2016.
Magistrates heard that the two defendants had been out that night in the resort and were looking for a taxi home before the attempted burglary occurred.
“Mr. Phillips entered the taxi rank’s premises located on The Green, with Mr. Fairlie standing outside as a lookout,” explained Mr. Hussain.
“The owner of the business, Mr. Tim Lemon, was notified of the break-in as the internal alarm system went off and another staff member made their way to the premises.”
The court heard how a window and a glass door panel had been smashed, and when the staff member entered the premises, they discovered a male person crouched on the floor by the safe attempting to break into it, before a struggle ensued to try and prevent the offender from leaving.
“Nothing was taken, but the attempt was there,” continued Mr. Hussain.
“Mr. Fairlie was identified from CCTV. When interviewed by police, he said that he had gone into Tenby with friends and had a bit too much to drink.
“He said that he was in the wrong place at the wrong time, and ran away.
“Initially he refused to name the other person involved and denied knowing what was going on, but an audio recording taken from the CCTV heard him say ‘I’m not getting in there Dean’ so they knew what they were doing, and Mr. Fairlie was acting as the lookout. It was a joint enterprise,” continued Mr. Hussain, who said that the defendant had a number of theft offences on record.
The court heard how the break-in caused £375 worth of damage to the business, with the owner, Mr. Lemon, stating that it had cost him a considerable amount of his own money to cover the repairs.
Defence solicitor Mike Kelleher told the court that Mr. Fairlie was an ‘idiot’ to get involved in the botched burglary.
“Another person smashed the window and entered, and was heard to say to Mr. Fairlie ‘get in here now’ - but he didn’t, and realised what was happening was out of order,” said Mr. Kelleher.
“His part in it was minor and not premeditated, the person with him was the prime mover. Some sort of motion sensor alarm went off... and so did Mr. Fairlie!
“He was so scared that he ran away, and ran all the way to Manorbier!
“Mr. Fairlie said that he went out for a good night and did not expect this to happen, but unfortunately it did, and he was there, so he accepts that he was responsible also. This happened at 5 am in the morning and he surrendered himself completely voluntarily to police by 1 pm that same day, as he realised it was wrong, and he fully admitted his part to the police,” added Mr. Kelleher, who explained that Mr. Fairlie was already the subject of a community order for cannabis possession.
Probation officer Julie Norman told the court that the defendant started his community order, which included undertaking 100 hours of unpaid work, on March 6, but that he didn’t get off to a ‘good start’ as he failed to attend scheduled appointments and had only completed nine hours of the unpaid work within two months.
Magistrates elected to revoke Mr. Fairlie’s community order and issue him with a new one, adding on an extra 50 hours of unpaid work to be completed.
He was also ordered to pay prosecution costs of £85 and an £85 victim surcharge.
“This was a night out brought on by lots of alcohol and you were coerced into doing something you really knew you shouldn’t be doing!” chief magistrate David Simpson told Mr. Fairlie.
“You were an idiot to get involved - I agree with your solicitor on that, but to say that you were in the wrong place at the wring time, well you made that choice.
“You have done something not very nice to this taxi firm owner - one day you might have someone smash your window and try and take something, and you’ll be right naffed off!” he added.
Mr. Fairlie was also ordered to pay £370 compensation to Mr. Lemon, despite his solicitor arguing that the cost should be split between the two co-defendants.