A man who took part in a theft and burgled two restaurants in Oldham town centre has been jailed.

Anthony Spencer, of no fixed abode, appeared at Minshull Street Crown Court on Tuesday, October 1, where he was sentenced alongside a woman, Amy Pelling, of Lees New Road, Oldham.

John Richards, prosecuting, told the court that in the early hours of September 5, 2020, a man who had met Pelling through a dating app went over to her flat. 

Pelling, 32, and the man were in her bedroom but when she left, Spencer, 38, and another man entered the room, demanding money from him and taking his phone.

The victim said he needed to return home to get the money, which the pair allowed him to do, but threatened him not to call the police.

Despite this, the man called the police, who attended the address and arrested Spencer, Pelling and the other man.

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Spencer was also sentenced for crimes he committed in the early hours of September 25 this year, when he broke into both the Molino Lounge and Nando's restaurants on Parliament Square, Oldham.

Mr Richards told the court that at 1.30am, Spencer smashed the door of the Molino Lounge before entering and looking through the bar area.

He left but then returned roughly two hours later, where he stole spirits, before he broke into the Nando's and stole a tablet.

Spencer was arrested wearing the same clothes as he was seen wearing on the CCTV footage which showed him breaking into the restaurants.

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Kay Driver, defending Pelling, said the mother was addicted to drugs and had mental health issues at the time of the incident in 2020.

She added that Pelling was deeply sorry for the incident and expressed remorse.

Tom Farr, representing Spencer, said the father struggled with heavy drugs and alcohol use.

When passing sentence, Recorder Gavin McBride, said the offences were "unpleasant", saying the pair had "lured" the victim of the theft to Pelling's flat to carry out a "premeditated" theft.

Recorder McBride sentenced Pelling to 10 months in prison, suspended for 18 months, for the theft, which she had pleaded guilty to.

She was also ordered to carry out 25 days of rehabilitation activity requirement and 12 months of drug rehabilitation.

Meanwhile, Spencer was jailed for 18 months.