Two men from Birmingham have been sentenced to prison after stealing almost £20,000 worth of jewellery from a Cheltenham store. Patrick Cauley and Bernard Casey, both aged 34, traveled to Cheltenham on November 13 with the intent to steal valuable pieces from Beards Jewellers.
According to police reports and CCTV footage, the pair entered the shop and feigned interest in several bangles and bracelets. While Cauley distracted the staff by asking for larger items, Casey slipped two bangles into his pocket before they both left the premises.
The stolen bangles alone are valued at over £8,000. Following the theft, the men got into a taxi nearby. The shop manager quickly alerted police after realizing the theft. Investigators soon identified the taxi firm and traced the men to Cheltenham Spa train station.
READ MORE: Gloucester’s Robinswood Hill and Alney Island May Move to Wildlife Trust Amid Council Funding Crisis
READ MORE: Brave Survivor’s Powerful Statement to Rapist Who Left Her with ‘Crushing Fear’
Cauley had boarded a train bound for Birmingham, but Casey was stopped and detained by officers outside the station. Police coordinated with British Transport Police and West Mercia Police to halt the train in Worcester, where Cauley was arrested. Several stolen items were recovered, though some valuables remain missing.
During sentencing at Gloucester Crown Court on December 18, both men received one-year prison sentences, with a minimum six-month period before eligibility for release. In court, Cauley expressed remorse, with his lawyer citing struggles with medication management and alcohol misuse influencing his actions. Casey’s defense highlighted mental health challenges and negative influences affecting his behavior.
Investigating officer PC Euan Edwards praised the collaborative police effort, emphasizing that retail crime has victims and that the dedication to apprehending offenders remains strong in Gloucestershire.