Man found guilty of aiding and abetting social club burglary
![North Shore Working Men's Club](https://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/webimg/legacy_ash_79611116.jpg?crop=3:2,smart&width=640&quality=65&enable=upscale)
![North Shore Working Men's Club](/img/placeholder.png)
Lee Cragg, 33, was found guilty of aiding and abetting the burglary at the North Shore Working Men’s Club – where he had spent the evening drinking and playing pool.
Preston Crown Court heard Cragg was a regular at the club in Cross Street, Blackpool.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdCCTV footage retrieved from the club showed Cragg, of Egerton Road, North Shore, entering a ground floor bar area through a roller shutter on July 15 last year.
![Judge Simon Newell](https://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/webimg/legacy_ash_79611113.jpg?crop=3:2,smart&width=640&quality=65)
![Judge Simon Newell](/img/placeholder.png)
He opened the fire doors to the rear of the building before closing them - leaving one door slightly ajar.
Cragg claimed he had gone to take a private phone call outside but he was convicted of aiding and abetting a burglary.
The court heard thieves entered the club through the open door and stole almost £1,000 cash from the bar float and bonus ball competition and damaged fruit machines.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdJudge Simon Newell, sentencing, said: “This was a mean offence, not only in terms of the amount of money involved but the fact it was your local and the place you play snooker.
![Judge Simon Newell](https://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/webimg/legacy_ash_79611113.jpg?crop=3:2,smart&width=640&quality=65)
![Judge Simon Newell](/img/placeholder.png)
“You know the people there and your own mother used to work there.
“It is a mean and nasty offence, and not surprisingly, the owners no longer want you to go there.
“You need to keep your fingers off other people’s property.”
Judge Newell handed Cragg a nine month sentence, suspended for 12 years, and ordered him to carry out 180 hours of unpaid work.