A prolific criminal was caught with stolen cash and belongings just hours after they were taken during a Carlisle house burglary.

A judge at the city’s crown court heard there was no evidence tying 27-year-old Simon Robert Highmore to a night-time break-in which was committed as the householder slept.

But despite initial denials that the property found in his possession had been pinched, Highmore later admitted a charge of handling stolen goods. He was sentenced at the crown court by Judge Tony Lancaster.

Prosecutor Beccy McGregor said tobacco, cigarettes and a large quantity of coins – of various denominations – were taken in the burglary during the early hours of February 2 at a property in Wetheral Street, off Wigton Road.

Enquiries led police to Carlisle's Sainsbury's supermarket at Bridge Street, where staff were asked to monitor those using a money-changing machine.

“At 4pm on February 2 – 14 hours after the burglary – the defendant walked into the store,” said Ms McGregor.

“He produced at a customer services desk a receipt in the sum of £273.49 which was considered to be a particularly large amount.”

This amounted to the proceeds of money machine usage. Highmore, who had no identification, was arrested.

“Further items that had been removed from the burglary,” added Ms McGregor, “were also found in the defendant’s property.”

Tobacco packaging was tested and contained the victim’s fingerprints.

When interviewed, Highmore claimed initially the items belonged to him. He later stated he found them in bushes off Wigton Road – a story dismissed by the judge as “highly improbable”.

The court heard Highmore was a “prolific shoplifter” with 74 offences on his criminal record.

Greg Hoare, defending, admitted it was a “shocking” rap sheet, and explained the underlying problem had been the defendant’s illegal substance misuse.

But since his last release from prison, in December, Highmore had committed only the handling crime. In addition he had impressed professionals with his “abstinence from class A drugs and the (positive) attitude he has shown in post-licence supervision”.

Addressing Judge Lancaster, Mr Hoare said: “Your Honour has a wide armoury available to give this young man punishment for this type of offending.”

Judge Lancaster suspended a four-month prison sentence for a year.

Highmore, of Priory Road, Carlisle, was ordered to complete 200 hours’ unpaid work, a rehabilitation requirement and a three-month night-time curfew.”