A man from Bexhill was charged with six counts of burglary and 10 counts of fraud following an investigation by the Kent Crime Squad.
50-year-old, John Fletcher from Bexhill-on-Sea, admitted all 16 counts and was jailed for two and a half years at Canterbury Crown Court on Thursday 8 June 2023.
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A 35-year-old woman from Winchelsea, was given a six-month suspended sentence after admitting five counts of burglary, following her role assisting Fletcher.
Investigation
Kent Police launched an investigation following a series of similar thefts from gyms in Ashford in January and February 2023.
A further offence was then found to have taken place at a gym in Eastbourne on Friday 10 February.
Analysis of CCTV at the gyms showed Fletcher slipping through turnstiles to enter changing rooms. On some occasions, the woman would distract staff while he did so.
More than £1,000 was stolen during the thefts and more than £2,000 was spent using banks cards which were taken. Further CCTV work showed Fletcher in shops when the cards were used.
Arrest
A car which officers linked to the offences was stopped near Tunbridge Wells on 24 February and both Fletcher and the woman were arrested.
PC Michael Eeles, of the Kent Crime Squad, said: ‘CCTV showed Fletcher waving at a camera while he spent other people’s money at a supermarket.
‘I am pleased the quick work of detectives led to be him being arrested a few days later and he is now in prison, unable to further trouble the public.’