Serial thief jailed for five years

A man who targeted businesses in Penrith and Kendal to carry out a spree of crimes has been jailed.

Over two weeks Seth Owen McDonald, 49, from Middlesbrough, stole plant, tools and a truck, and attempted to steal other property from Thompsons of Penrith, Jimmy Allen Plant Hire Penrith and Cox and Allen Ltd of Kendal. .

He was convicted of three counts of theft, two counts of going equipped for theft, and attempted theft and found not guilty for three other offences.

Since 2017, McDonald was wanted nationally and was finally arrested in Cleveland in Teeside in September 2018.

McDonald was jailed on 1 August 2019 at Carlisle Crown Court for five years.