Greggs serial thief finally caught - with mayo round his mouth

Aserial "bake and bolt" thiefwas caught on camera plundering baguettes from his local Greggs.

Darren Humphreys, 59, was finally rumbled after police found him with mayo from Gregg's Mexican chicken sandwich plastered around his mouth.

He targeted hislocal Greggs store for baguettes and sausage rolls on six occasions, Workington Magistrates Court heard.

Surveillance footage shows the moment Humphreys reached into the fridge at the bakery in Workington, Cumbria, before casually strolling over to lift a bottle of coke on May 7.

He takes a quick glance over the sandwiches before strolling out of the store without paying.

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Earlier this month, the court heard that, on one occasion, Humphreys had also pushed a member of staff who confronted him as he stole two baguettes from the store.

Humphreys denied six charges of theft and a charge of common assault, but was convicted following a trial. Five Greggs employees and five police officers were called to give evidence, and he was found guilty on Wednesday, September 10.

Prosecutor Pamela Fee said the first of the string of thefts happened on April 24, at 6.30am, when Humphreys was seen stealing two baguettes. He was challenged by shift manager Karen Bowness, who tried to retrieve the two baguettes - but he then pushed her. Following the struggle, the baguettes fell to the floor.

Four days later, on April 28, he returned again to steal another two baguettes and a staff member reported him to police. When police went to arrest him, he had a 'distinctive' orange mayonnaise around his mouth from a Mexican chicken sandwich, the court heard.

On May 3, he again went back to steal two baguettes, before doing the same on May 7 - the incident captured on CCTV - and on May 8. On June 1, Humphreys stole four sausage rolls, to the value of £3.90, but a member of the public brought him back in to the store and the items were recovered.

PC Katie Twentyman told the court she had known Humphreys for between 12 and 18 months in her role as a police officer. After being given his description on May 3, the officer went to a bench near Workington Bus Station where she knew Humphreys went to eat the sandwiches.

PC Twentyman recalled Humphreys being sat on the bench, surrounded by baguette wrappers from Greggs. He was eating a baguette and dropped it on the floor when he saw her. He opened his mouth and let the rest of the sandwich fall out of his mouth, the court was told.

Humphreys claimed someone had given him the sandwiches before he was arrested.
Police officers who reviewed CCTV footage of the thefts said they had 'no doubt' that the person in the footage was Humphreys.

The defendant, who had no legal representation, declined to give evidence.
He said: "I have nothing to say. I'm quite happy with the court proceedings. I'm fully aware that I have taken nothing from Greggs."

Humphreys, of Centenary Close, Maryport, was found guilty of all charges. Magistrates said they 'had no doubt' Humphreys was the person responsible and 'it was clear' that the offences did take place.

Prosecutor Pamela Fee remarked that Humphreys has 'quite the passion' for Greggs, and applied for a Criminal Behaviour Order banning him from entering any of the chain's stores in Cumbria.

There was also an application for £650 in costs and a total of £57 in compensation for Greggs. The case was adjourned for sentence until October 8. Humphreys was bailed on the condition he does not enter any Greggs store in Cumbria.