Police despair over 'inept' career burglar who has racked up 276 offences but is repeatedly given short sentences by the courts

  • Peter Everall would be given short prison stretches, or non custodial sentences after claiming he was an 'inept' criminal with a gambling habit and a poorly son 
  • But with days of being freed the father-of-one, from Lancashire, would strike again targeting churches, schools and social clubs for cash or electrical items 
  • Local PCSO Chris Hamer revealed that the police are getting fed up of it all 

This series of police mugshots chart the criminal career of a shameless burglar who has clocked up 276 offences after being repeatedly let off by the courts.

Peter Everall, 44, from Lancashire, would be given short prison stretches, or non custodial sentences after claiming he was an 'inept' criminal with a gambling habit and a poorly son.

But with days of being freed the father-of-one would strike again targeting churches, schools and social clubs for cash or electrical items.

Some of his offending occurred within days of him being released on appeal, given a suspended sentence or given early parole from prison for 'good behaviour.'   

Local PCSO Chris Hamer revealed that the police are getting fed up with Everall and the courts.

Last week (pictured) he was back before a judge for the 99th time after stealing £100 pounds in donations and a Lambretta scooter in raids on two churches and a glazing firm

Last week (pictured) he was back before a judge for the 99th time after stealing £100 pounds in donations and a Lambretta scooter in raids on two churches and a glazing firm

 In October 2016 Everall (pictured) served another six weeks for raiding a nursery

 In October 2016 Everall (pictured) served another six weeks for raiding a nursery

He said: 'Every time he's released we're counting the hours until he's breaking into houses again. We're constantly targeting him on release but we can't hold his hand 24/7.

'It is entirely in his hands to turn things around. If he doesn't take that help and address his gambling addiction he is going to keep going in and out of prison.'

When once ordered to complete 100 hours unpaid work, Everall gave up up after just 30 minutes.

His treatment by the courts enraged local police with one frustrated senior office publicly accusing them of administering 'no deterrent' in a tweet with the hashtag '#throwawaythekey'.

Last week he was back before a judge for the 99th time after stealing £100 pounds in donations and a Lambretta scooter in raids on two churches and a glazing firm. 

But although he was given another 20 months behind bars it is expected he will be let back out on the streets in October after serving just half his sentence. The maximum sentence for burglary is ten years in jail.

Former cake shop worker Everall, from Haslingden, embarked on his one man crimewave in 1985 when he was just 11. He later claimed he was hooked on fixed odds betting terminals - known as the 'crack cocaine of fruit machines' in his local bookmakers stores.

In May 2015 (pictured) he was given a further 40 months for raiding two more schools plus a pub

In May 2015 (pictured) he was given a further 40 months for raiding two more schools plus a pub

Victims included schools, private companies, social clubs, churches, farms and community centres across Rossendale and Burnley. At one school for pupils with learning difficulties Everall walked in the false pretext of speaking to the headteacher then stole its Transit van which would take youngsters on trips.

In another raid he crept into a primary school during the day and rifled the coat pockets of children whilst they were at PE lessons.

Everall was initially given community or probation orders in the hope of dealing with his gambling habit but over the following decades when he re-offended he was repeatedly sent to jail for short periods - then freed after serving just half.

In December 2008 just two weeks after given a suspended sentence he was jailed for seven months after being caught raiding a pub during a 'ladies' night.'

Then after serving a further 56 days in 2009, he got another 20 months in March the following year for 37 burglaries which he claimed he committed because he had suffered three bereavements in a year including the suicide of his brother in law and said his girlfriend had become ill after giving birth to their son.

In March 2012 Everall was given 32 weeks for burglaries in two social clubs and a school then the following month he was given a further 18 weeks after he owned up to a further 13 burglaries at a store, a school, a factory, a church, a sports centre and two at hotels.

Within weeks of being freed again in 2013 he was arrested again after a £2,200 spree in which he broke into two more schools and also a bakery factory and was jailed for three-and-a-half years
In March 2010 (pictured) he was jailed for 20 months for 37 burglaries

Within weeks of being freed again in 2013 (left) he was arrested again after a £2,200 spree in which he broke into two more schools and also a bakery factory and was jailed for three-and-a-half years. In March 2010 (right) he was jailed for 20 months for 37 burglaries

Within weeks of being freed again in 2013 he was arrested again after a £2,200 spree in which he broke into two more schools and also a bakery factory and was jailed for three-and-a-half years. 

At the time he claimed he did it to give his then three year old son who had a degenerative muscle wasting condition a 'better life' only to then spend it on betting.

In May 2015 he was given a further 40 months for raiding two more schools plus a pub. He crawled into one of the schools through internal sliding windows whilst staff were still in the building and made off with money pouches containing £50.

SNAPSHOT OF EVERALL'S RAP SHEET 

December 2008 - burglary - suspended sentence

December 2008 - burglary, attempted burglary and theft - 280 days

December 2009 - burglary - 56 days

March 2010 - burglary x 37 and vehicle theft - 20 months

March 2012 - burglary x 3 - 32 weeks

April 2012 - burglary x 13 - 18 weeks.

March 2013 - burglaries x 3 and one attempted burglary - three and a half years

May 2015 - burglary x 4 - 40 months

Oct 2016 - burglary six weeks

December 2016 - burglary x 2 - 18 weeks suspended for 12 months

February 2017 - burglary x 3 and breach of suspended sentence 28 weeks

March 2017 - car theft - eight months

August 2017 - burglary - 16 weeks

September 2017 - sentence reduced on appeal to 16 weeks suspended for 12 months

November 2017 - burglary - 32 weeks.

January 2018 - burglary x 3, vehicle theft and theft - 20 months 

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In October 2016 he served another six weeks for raiding a nursery before escaping with a suspended sentence that December for two more raids having complained he had not been able to spend Christmas with his family for 14 years as he was usually behind bars - and he wanted to spend the festive period with his son.

The following February he was given a further 28 weeks after targeting a church and a textiles museum and then subsequently got another 16 weeks in jail which he successfully got suspended on appeal the following August. He breached it the following month by stealing tools from a farm storage unit and and was given a further 32 weeks behind bars for which he served 16.

Last November a judge said all the courts could do was to 'protect' people and property from Everall.

Supt John-Paul Ruffle, of Greater Manchester Police, wrote on Twitter: 'This prolific burglar has appeared in the dock nearly 100 times. 

'A 32-week sentence is no deterrent nor an appropriate punishment for such a prolific thief #throwawaythekey. 

'Just a shame the punishment doesn't reflect the crime, the impact he has on the local communities or his criminal history.'

Last week Everall was hauled to Minshull Street Crown Court, Manchester following raids on two churches in July last year and also a raid on a music store in which £70,000 worth of software was stolen. They were carried out just five days after he freed from jail for vehicle theft.

In a victim person statement, Ray Davies, owner of the Lambretta motor scooter which was taken from his from his glazing firm said: 'Since the burglary, I have felt uneasy. 

'The scooter had 120 miles on the clock since it was stolen and it was returned in a filthy condition, there were scratches on the headset and the protective jacket was in poor condition.

'I had been trying to keep it in good condition and this has caused inconsiderable damage.'

Peter Everall, 44, from Lancashire, would be given short prison stretches, or non custodial sentences after claiming he was an 'inept' criminal with a gambling habit and a poorly son

Peter Everall, 44, from Lancashire, would be given short prison stretches, or non custodial sentences after claiming he was an 'inept' criminal with a gambling habit and a poorly son

In mitigation for Everall, defence lawyer Chris Richards said his client had been sexually abused at care homes in North Wales and added: 'He has a significant gambling addiction and he accepts his behaviour supports the addiction.

'There was a period of time when he was out of custody, four weeks, when he made a considerable effort to turn his life around.

'He was employed working in a cake shop, where he worked eight hours a day. He excluded himself from the bookmakers to try and curb his addiction.

'He did everything he could to stop the urges of gambling because he doesn't want to be the sort of man who's doing time in prison in his 50's. He accepts he relapsed. An addiction is something that can be incredibly hard to control.

'He knows he is going to custody. He expresses considerable regret for his actions. His family circumstances are unfortunate, his eight-year-old son is seriously disabled.

'Social services have been involved as the mother of the son is struggling to care for him. His son looks up to him and finds him to be a positive influence. He has led a very tragic life, but this does not dissociate from his actions.

Sentencing Judge Angela Nield told Everall: 'You have used your opportunistic ways to fund your gambling addiction, which, a lot like a drug addiction, has completely controlled your behaviour. 

'Considering your background you would think that stealing from those in need would be beneath you - but obviously not.

'You are directly responsible for your son and given he is someone who looks to you for guidance, I can only hope he doesn't follow in your path of crime.'

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