A PROLIFIC thief with a horrendous criminal record has found himself back behind bars.

Dale Simpson is well known to the justice system in Cheshire through his penchant for stealing things that do not belong to him.

The 33-year-old was previously banned from south Warrington at night for five years when he was sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court in May last year.

He is now back in custody after being sentenced at Chester Magistrates’ Court on Monday, July 3, where he admitted two charges of theft from a motor vehicle.

The court was informed by Michael O’Kane, prosecuting, how the first occurred in Warrington on May 5 this year.

Simpson helped himself to power tools to the value of £985.

No doubt happy with his haul, he struck again two days later, emptying a van of a selection of tools worth around £2,500 in the Padgate Lane area.

The defendant was previously jailed for 20 weeks at the crown court after breaking into a car, stealing a bank card and using it at the Looking Glass pub and in a shop to buy a vape.

In January 2022, over a three-hour spell, Simpson was also seen on doorbell cameras attempting to steal from unlocked cars.

He used bags and trolleys to carry stolen items such as cash, sunglasses, a laptop and an iPad.

The court heard how between 2017 and 2020, Simpson was convicted of 13 thefts.

His defence stated that the defendant was formerly a primary school teacher whose ‘world fell apart’ after a traumatic event.

It was also said that Simpson was going to move away from Warrington, but the defendant still lives in Orford.

For these latest offences, district judge John McGarva said that only an immediate custodial sentence could be justified.

This was due to the severity of the offences, the defendant’s previous convictions for similar crimes and the fact that he is deemed to have ‘no prospect of rehabilitation’.

Simpson, of Boyle Avenue, was sentenced to 24 weeks in prison

Commenting on his previous offending, chief inspector Neil Drum, of Cheshire Police, said: “Simpson is a prolific offender who has brought misery to Warrington over a number of years.

“He has no remorse for any of his victims and thrives off his offending.

“Our officers will use all the tools available to them to make the area a hostile place for criminals.”