A MAN from Rhyl who stole tools from a former employer of his in the town has been jailed.

Lewis Thomas, 29, of East Parade, was sentenced to 14 months’ imprisonment at Caernarfon Crown Court today (May 31).

He had previously admitted charges of burglary of a dwelling and possession of cannabis.

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Yesterday, the court heard that Thomas stole tools worth £1,566.53 from a property on Stanley Park Avenue in Rhyl late on April 29.

Footage captured from the property’s Ring doorbell showed Thomas picking up a shovel before gaining entry, and later leaving on a push bike while carrying a large bag.

A small amount of damage was also caused to a window at the back of the property, which Thomas used to exit the premises.

He was arrested on May 4, with items of clothing seized from his accommodation matching those which he was seen wearing on the Ring doorbell footage.

Following his arrest, Thomas said he had been annoyed at the property’s owner, Milo O’Loughlin, for having “not been paid what he should have been” for previous jobs.

Today, though, prosecutor Patrick Gartland told the court that Mr O’Loughlin had, in fact, not employed or spoken to Thomas since 2019.

He added that he did not owe Thomas any money, nor had he withheld any wages from him.

Some items were returned to Mr O’Loughlin, but tools worth a total of £648.43 have not been recovered.

Damage to a window at the property also cost £571 to repair.

When arrested, Thomas was also found in possession of cannabis, an offence for which he received a conditional discharge at the magistrates’ court.

Defending Thomas, who had 18 previous convictions for 51 offences and who had been released from prison roughly six weeks earlier, Amy Edwards told the court yesterday he is remorseful for his actions.

Sentencing, Recorder Wyn Lloyd-Jones told Thomas that he has a “very bad record”.

Thomas will be subject to a 12-month period of post-custodial supervision upon his release from prison.

Recorder Lloyd-Jones told him: “You are getting too old to commit offences of the kind you’ve been committing.

“What you stole was a substantial amount of property. This was a deliberate, planned offence, obviously committed for financial gain.

“The victim in this case had tried to help you in the past by giving you employment. He didn’t owe you money.

“You continue to offend despite being given many opportunities by the court over the years. The time has come to stop.”

Thomas will also pay a statutory surcharge.