Two men received a two-year ban from Gwynedd after raiding a Caernarfon card shop
Caernarfon: Two burglars have been banned from Gwynedd for two years. They raided a card shop in the city. Mark Fisher and Shane Winter, both 34, admitted to the crime. They received a 20-month suspended prison sentence at Caernarfon Crown Court.
The incident happened on March 22, 2023. The shop manager heard a window smash and called the police. Officers arrived quickly at the Card Factory on Pool Street.
Fisher and Winter kicked in the front door and fled, dropping a rucksack. Police chased them through the streets. They were found hiding in some bushes. One of them even pointed his fingers like a gun at the manager.
The prosecutor said it was a planned burglary. They wore dark clothes and had tools, including an angle grinder for the safe. They stole £864 and 38 stamp books. Thankfully, all items were recovered, but the shop faced over £2,500 in damages.
Both men had long criminal records. Fisher was already on a suspended sentence. Their lawyer argued they were in North Wales for work but didn’t get paid. They committed the burglary to find a way home.
There was no violence, and no one was hurt. The judge noted they had been trying to change their lives since the incident. She decided to suspend the sentence, considering their efforts.
Along with the ban, Fisher must complete 15 rehabilitation days and a 35-day program. He also received a £100 fine. Winter has similar requirements, with 26 program sessions and six months of monitoring.
Both men cannot contact the store manager for two years. The tools used in the burglary will also be destroyed.
