Burglar jailed following crime spree in Hartlepool

Commercial crime spree leads to prison sentence

According to an article published on 3 December 2025 by Gazettelive, a 39-year-old man has been sentenced to 20 months in prison following a series of commercial burglaries in Hartlepool. John Chapman pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including burglary, attempted theft, and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

Gazettelive reports that the defendant targeted several local businesses, including the Middleton Grange shopping centre, storage units belonging to The Thai Village and Happy Daze, and Hartlepool College. During these incidents, he caused significant property damage and stole items such as copper cables and alloy vehicle wheels.

The crime spree concluded on 20 August when police attempted to apprehend Chapman following an attempted burglary on Church Street. During the pursuit, the defendant threw a bicycle at a police officer, causing the officer to fall onto railway lines and sustain facial injuries. The court heard that the defendant, who has a significant criminal record, committed the offences to fund a drug habit during a period of personal distress. Businesses are encouraged to reinforce security measures for storage areas and external equipment to deter unauthorized access.

Source : Gazettelive