TWO men have been jailed after being stopped in Newtown with thousands of pounds worth of stolen goods.

Anthony Dennis Crosby, 40, of Heol Amlwch, Llandaff North, Cardiff, and Joshua Wells, 35, of Major Road, Canton, Cardiff, appeared at Welshpool Magistrates Court where they pleaded guilty to theft and being equipped for theft.

Helen Tench, prosecuting, said the duo were stopped in Newtown on August 27 and found with £2,800 worth of alcohol and clothing taken from an 'unknown' store.

"A police officer was made aware of a BMW travelling along the A483 from Welshpool to Newtown, which West Mercia Police had linked with a high-value shoplifting offence earlier in the week", Ms Tench said.

Officers were told by the defendants that they were making a return journey from Wrexham to Cardiff , and a search of their vehicle found cutters, cut tags, clothes and spirit bottles. Ms Tench said the presence of the snipping equipment, and the travelling involved, showed a degree of planning.

Jon Lewis, defending Wells, said his client was currently serving time in prison on recall.

He added: "He has had a long-term addiction to one substance or another over the course of his adult life."

A report on Crosby was read out by Julian Davies of the probation service who said Crosby had struggled financially during lockdown and driven with Wells from Cardiff to Wrexham to steal the items, but had regretted wheat he had done.

Mike Hall, defending Crosby, added: "He has responsibilities which he is maturing into.

"His kind of punishment needs to be in the community and he can face up to his responsibilities."

But chair of the magistrates bench Stephen Pembroke felt the offences were serious enough to send both men to jail with identical sentences.

Both Wells and Crosby were jailed for 16 weeks for being equipped for theft, and given 16 weeks in prison to run concurrently for theft. They will also pay £85 costs and a £128 victim surcharge.