Oldham man sentenced after stealing 'amnesty bins' from Manchester nightclub

Cawley was sentenced to 15 months behind bars

A man from Oldham, who stole ‘amnesty bins’ from the Warehouse Project nightclub in Manchester, has been jailed for 15 months.

Steven Cawley, 40, of Longfield Crescent was with two other men – who were sentenced previously – when he got into the nightclub on Store Street in a car.

Mark Kelbie, 40, and Christopher Kenyon, 27, both from Chadderton, were both convicted of one count of burglary.

Kenyon was also convicted of one count of dangerous driving, in relation to another case.

The three men broke into a temporary office at the Warehouse Project, which was being used to store ‘amnesty bins’.

The containers are for clubbers to surrender drugs or weapons and face no further action or investigation.

Manchester Crown Court heard how the bins were thought to contain illegal drugs, though there was no records taken of what were given up by those going into the venue.

The incident took place at about 4pm on 27 September 2017 – and a total of £250 was also stolen, along with paperwork.

The men involved were identified from CCTV footage.

Cawley’s lawyer said his client had not worked “for years” and he and his family rely on state benefits, so “he goes along with” offers to make money when they arrive.

Cawley admitted two counts of burglary and a bail act offence of not turning up to court for a previous hearing.

Kelbie and Kenyon had previously been sentenced after pleading guilty.