Two men have been sentenced to prison after their involvement in a burglary at a convenience store in Warrington. John Mozley, 55, and Ben Tyler, 35, were sentenced at Chester Crown Court on Tuesday, August 20, for conspiracy to commit burglary and theft by an employee. Mozley received 30 months in prison, while Tyler was sentenced to two years.
The case stems from an incident on June 10, 2023, when Tyler, working a closing shift at the store on Thelwall New Road, left the premises after securing the shop’s rear shutter. However, the following morning, at around 3:55 a.m., Cheshire Police received a report from a neighbor who heard a loud banging coming from the store and saw a man attempting to break in. The rear shutter was left unsecured, raising suspicions.
Tyler was briefly questioned by officers, but he claimed he had simply stepped outside for a cigarette. The store staff arrived later to find both Mozley and Tyler already present, telling their colleagues they were there to ensure everything was in order after the attempted break-in.
As the morning progressed, both men repeatedly entered the store’s electrical cupboard, where alarm panels were located. When the store’s smoke cloak system was activated at 8:53 a.m., staff discovered the store had been burglarized, with significant items stolen, including £2400 worth of cigarettes, £966 worth of alcohol, and over £11,400 in cash.
An investigation led to the discovery that Mozley and Tyler had been involved in previous thefts from the store, using the safe and tills to steal thousands of pounds. A forensic examination of a spade found at the scene linked Tyler to the burglary, and text messages from his phone confirmed the duo’s involvement in the crime.
Despite the overwhelming evidence, the pair denied their involvement, claiming they were at home during the incidents. However, telephone data and CCTV footage contradicted their claims. Mozley resigned from his position after the burglary and attempted to cover up the theft by asking staff to sign documents about the safe’s contents.
Both men were charged with conspiracy to commit burglary and theft by an employee, and after pleading guilty, they were sentenced in August.