Burglar who broke into fudge shop in Plymouth now doing porridge

A burglar who broke into a Plymouth fudge shop is now doing porridge.

Drug-addled Justin Crimp, aged 44, stole freshly-made chocolate fudge from the store on the Barbican.

He used a plank of wood to smash his way into Roly’s Fudge Pantry on Southside Street, a court heard.

The prolific offender had burgled a home hours before and confronted a dad while holding a rock.

The quick-thinking father managed to photograph the intruder on his mobile phone – and he was recognised by police.

Crimp could barely recall the break-ins because he had taken Valium, Plymouth Crown Court heard.

Jailing him for 12 months, Recorder Jonathan Barnes told Crimp: “You walked into a man’s home. He had young children in the house. He became aware that you were in his home and it has left him shaken and upset.

“Turning towards the commercial burglary, in the early hours of the following morning, you then smashed a window and stole some fudge.”

Crimp, of Vicarage Gardens, Barne Barton, pleaded guilty to two counts of burglary on May 28 and May 29.

Those convictions take him above 50 – including long prison sentences for affray, burglary and robbery.

Deni Mathews, for the Crown Prosecution Service, said the father was putting his two children to bed at their home in Mount Stone Road, Stonehouse, at about 8.15pm.

He added that he heard the front door open as he was in the bathroom.

Mr Mathews said he shouted out and then was faced by Crimp coming from the kitchen carrying a family iPad and a rock.

The barrister added that he had not used the rock to break in nor did he use it to threaten the family.

Mr Mathews said Crimp but the iPad down and walked out of the home – but not before the householder had taken a picture on his mobile phone.

He added that he managed to evade the man’s attempt to follow him with another of the family’s phones.

But Mr Mathews added he was later recognised by police from the photograph.

He said that in the meantime Crimp had smashed his way into Roly’s Fudge Pantry just before 1am.

The court heard he was spotted holding a plank of wood with two other men outside the store.

Mr Mathews said the gang stole chocolate fudge worth £150.

He added that repairing the damage cost the owners £250 in excess in insurance.

Owner Matthew Pugh told Plymouth Live at the time that he took the break-in as a compliment.

He explained: “They did not take anything apart from freshly-made fudge. They obviously could not resist it!

“It was quite a few chunks of fudge. It is a beautiful place to work, it is a rare occurrence.”

Michael Green, for Crimp, said his client could not recall the break-ins as he was under the influence of Valium at the time.

But he added that the defendant admitted both offences straight away.

Mr Green said he had relapsed into drug abuse after his partner died and he became homeless.

He added that he had been living in a tent.

The barrister said: “He is getting old enough that he should know better. He needs to address his drug problem.”

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