David McCouid was banned from entering almost the entirety of Liverpool city centre, but that didn’t stop him
David McCouid, 40 and of Bedford Road in Bootle, was sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court following a burglary spree(Image: Merseyside Police )
A “prolific offender” banned from the city centre told a bartender “nice one” while in the middle of an extensive burglary spree. David McCouid, 40, targeted a number of businesses including restaurants, a chemist and a beauty salon over a number of days in November last year.
The dad did so while the subject of a criminal behaviour order (CBO) – court imposed restrictions to prevent offenders from carrying out further anti-social behaviour. A crown court judge told McCouid this afternoon, Wednesday, January 15 that “the public deserve a break from your behaviour”.
Emily Land, prosecuting, told Liverpool Crown Court that the defendant’s previous behaviour – which included a string of convictions for domestic and non-domestic burglaries, thefts and robberies – was issued with the CBO at Liverpool Magistrates’ Court on October 17, 2022. The order meant there were large areas the defendant couldn’t enter including “almost the entirety of Liverpool city centre”.
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Ms Land said the defendant targeted Carlisi restaurant on Dale Street on August 2 last year. CCTV showed the defendant and an unidentified man smash the window at around 2.45am before entering. The court heard he ripped the till drawer out and made off with between £80 and £200. The window damage also cost £280 to repair.
The burglar didn’t come to the attention of the authorities for two months, when he then engaged in a series of burglaries and attempted burglaries over a handful of days. On November 10 the defendant burgled Aslan Barbers on Prescot Road in Kensington. The court heard he first broke into the shop at 1.16am using a rock and pulled out the cash till.
He made off from the scene but then returned minutes later on his pedal bike. He then re-entered the store and could be seen looking through the cupboards before leaving with stock. Two more men, who have not been before the courts, then entered the same shop through the same hole in the window and made off with a TV.
The following day he smashed into Café Nero on Bold Street before burgling Danny Mac’s Tavern on Oldham Street on three occasions. He entered the pub at around 4.30am by smashing the window. He grabbed the till and left, but returned around 18 minutes later and escaped with six bottles of spirits.
Ms Land said later the same day he went back again and entered through the same hole in the window. A bartender, who was referred to in court as Ms Lloyd, had been down in the cellar. She heard noise and went upstairs and challenged McCouid while calling 999. As he left the pub he said “nice one”.
The defendant also targeted Beauty Box on Berry Street at around 8.45am. He smashed a window with a brick before entering the shop where he stole £100 in cash from the till. As part of the same spree on November 12 he attempted a burglary at the Italian Club on Bold Street. Witness Pauline Scott reported seeing the defendant smash the window. However, he left instead of entering the restaurant.
The damaged front of Beauty Box on Berry Street following McCouid’s burglary(Image: Natasha Le)
The defendant also made his way to Euro Chemist on Berry Street, where he ripped the till out from behind the counter. He took £20 but Ms Land told the court the till cost £350 to replace. Two days later on November 14 staff at Rudy’s Pizza on Bold Street came into work to find the front window smashed. CCTV showed the defendant had ridden up to the window and smashed the glass before cycling away.
The defendant also went to Subway on Hardman Street. Staff member Sarah Marshall reported the defendant reaching over the counter and grabbing the till, making off with £150. The defendant reportedly told Ms Marshall: “Sorry, I’m desperate.” On November 15 he then attempted to burgle Lock and Key hotel on Duke Street.
Ms Land said the defendant was reportedly seen walking past the hotel making rapid head movements with a “metal canister or pole” in his hand. He attempted to gain entry to the building before walking away up Duke Street.
Merseyside Police was made aware of his presence in the area and officers including Sergeant Preston were deployed to find him. At around 3.44am he was seen to walk past a woman asleep on the floor at the junction of Brooks Alley and Duke Street and picked up her black handbag.
Officers who followed him saw him riffling through the bag, before a struggle broke out when they attempted to arrest him. Ms Land said the defendant “pushed and threw punches” at Sergeant Preston before he was tackled to the ground and detained. Ms Land said the defendant has 43 convictions for 82 offences.
Appearing before Liverpool Magistrates’ Court on November 16 last year, the defendant entered guilty pleas to eight burglaries, two thefts from a shop, three attempted burglaries, breaching his CPO order and assaulting an emergency worker.
In mitigation, Ken Heckle, defending, told the court: “Mitigation is limited, sadly.” He said the defendant had long struggled with class A drug addiction. He added: “The offending is unsophisticated but serious none-the-less. It is a man in desperation to get funds to get more cocaine and heroin.”
Mr Heckle said his client, who was a dad of twin eight-year-old girls, had not engaged as well as he should have done with authorities, but did say he had previously gone into hostels following his releases from prison. However, he said “there were other drug users around him and within 24 hours he was back in the city centre”.
Mr Heckle told the court the defendant was in a “sad cycle”. He asked the judge to consider a sentence that overall reflected some of the mitigation, which included the fact his client was sorry for his behaviour.
Sentencing, Garrett Byrne told the defendant that he was a “prolific offender with a very bad record”. He said: “On October 17 2022 it was considered necessary to impose a criminal behaviour order because of your antecedence that includes numerous thefts, burglaries, robberies and assaults. No court order seems to deter you.”
The judge told the defendant, who appeared in court via video link to HMP Liverpool, he had multiple breaches of his CBO throughout 2023 and 2024 and added: “I think enough is enough. The public deserves a break from your behaviour.” Judge Byrne treated the breach of the CBO as the lead offence and sentenced the defendant, of no fixed abode but most recently of Bedford Road in Bootle, to 36 months’ imprisonment.
The defendant, who sported thinning hair and wore a grey prison-issue jumper, raised his hand and asked the judge how long he would serve in prison before leaving the video link. Judge Byrne adjourned further proceedings until January 22 where he will impose a new CBO.