Two men jailed after theft and assault in Bury St Edmunds

Gavin McConkey from Bury St Edmunds was sentenced at Suffolk Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday for a series of offences, including stealing from a shop in Bury St Edmunds. 

The 53-year-old, of no fixed abode, was sentenced to 26 weeks’ imprisonment and ordered to pay £239 to victims for theft from a shop, possession of a controlled drug and possession of a knife or bladed article in a public place.

Gavin McConkey was sentenced to 26 weeks (Image: Suffolk police)

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McConkey was initially arrested on Tuesday after a high street shop in the town centre reported the theft of £141 worth of clothing.

Devin Paola, of Chalk Road South, Bury St Edmunds, was also convicted at Suffolk Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, June 26.

The 24-year-old was sentenced for 11 offences of theft from shops, as well as a public order offence and a count of assault by beating.

Paola received a 12-week custodial sentence and was ordered to pay costs and victim surcharges totalling £1,169.98.

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Devin Paola was sentenced to 12 weeks (Image: Suffolk Police)

He was initially arrested on suspicion of having stolen clothing from a shop in the town centre on Monday, June 24.

READ MORE: Suffolk and Essex Crime News

Sergeant Joseph Nettleton, of the Bury St Edmunds Community Policing Team at Suffolk police, said: “This shows our continued commitment to tackling retail crime in Bury St Edmunds.

“It’s vital that we work with businesses and that businesses continue to report these crimes so we can investigate and look to prosecute when possible and appropriate.

“In these cases, and in others, working and good quality CCTV has provided important evidence and I would advise any businesses wanting more advice to look on our website or to get in contact.”