TWO burglars who left a trail of blood-covered clothing they had stolen “like Hansel and Gretel” have been jailed.

Sean McAvoy, 47, and Liam McConnell, 28, stole over £1,300 worth of clothing from Trespass on Ivison Lane in Workington in the early hours of Monday morning.

Lee Dacre, prosecuting at Workington Magistrates’ Court, said police came across the defendants on Sunday evening when McConnell told officers that they “would get up to no good”.

Just before 12.15am on Monday, they were seen looking through the window of the outdoor clothing store, Trespass.

A rock was thrown at the door and entry was gained to the store. McConnell passed items of clothing to McAvoy, who was “grabbing armfuls of jackets”.

Whitehaven News: Trespass in Workington was targeted by the defendants in the early hours of Monday morning

Police were sent to the scene due to the store alarm going off and officers located items of clothing “covered in blood” on Oxford Street.

Mr Dacre said police heard voices coming from a flat nearby and numerous items of Trespass clothing were found in the property.

The total value of the goods stolen was estimated to be £1,317 and some of the items were not resaleable.

Mr Dacre said there had been some planning and organisation. A rock had been used and there was damage to the property.

The court was told that McAvoy has a total of 53 convictions with 105 offences over the last 30 years. The majority are theft and dishonesty offences.

He was last before the court in April 2022 when he was sentenced to eight weeks in custody for breaching a Criminal Behaviour Order.

McConnell has 22 convictions with 39 offences committed between 2007 and 2023. A probation officer told the court that McConnell was in breach of a crown court order.

John Cooper, defending, said: “I think the only thing I disagree with is the level of planning.

“He [McAvoy] has drunk a significant amount of vodka and is out with his co-accused. He isn’t aware of the conversation with the police. He is quite shocked.

“The level of planning is not as significant as made out. It’s a very rubbish attempt at burglary. He knows there is CCTV directly outside the shop.”

Mr Cooper said the trail of blood-covered clothing was “almost like Hansel and Gretel”. 

He told the court: “I don’t think you can call it sophisticated.”

Mr Cooper, who also represented McConnell, said: “He [McConnell] knows what the likely outcome is today.

“It’s stupidity. Looking back, he knows he was going to get caught straightaway.”

McAvoy, of Peter Street, Whitehaven, pleaded guilty to burglary and three charges of theft from a shop.

The thefts took place at Morrisons in Workington on June 10 and Tesco in Workington on June 27.

READ MORE: Three men arrested after burglary from Trespass store, Workington

McConnell, of Gameriggs Road, Whitehaven, pleaded guilty to burglary.

McAvoy was sentenced to a total of 240 days in custody. He was ordered to pay £100 in compensation to Trespass, £224 in compensation to Morrisons and £94 in compensation to Tesco.

McConnell was sentenced to six months in custody. He must pay £100 in compensation to Trespass, £85 costs and a £154 victim surcharge.

Speaking after their sentencing, Detective Sergeant Lawrence Burden said: “Both men were traced extremely quickly following the report of the break-in and the evidence of their guilt was so over-whelming that they had no choice but to admit the offences at court.

“No doubt many people will have walked past the Trespass store on Monday morning and will have noticed the damage caused to a local business.

“We hope those same people will get word that those who committed the offences have been so swiftly identified, arrested, charged, convicted and sentenced to periods of imprisonment.”