Bury St Edmunds burglar Steven Perrio who attacked shopkeeper at Eastgate Stores and stole over £2,000 worth of tobacco products is jailed

A Bury St Edmunds man has been jailed for attacking a shopkeeper after stealing thousands of pounds worth of tobacco products.

Steven Perrio, 34, of Bevis Walk, smashed a window at Eastgate Stores, in Eastgate Street, Bury St Edmunds, and stole more than £2,000 worth of tobacco products on Wednesday, December 13 just before 4.30am.

The break-in triggered the alarm system and the shopkeeper arrived at the scene to investigate, encountering Perrio who was still inside.

Perrio punched and knocked him to the floor and then fled the scene.

Police were called and Perrio was quickly identified as a suspect.

Officers found him later that same morning where he was arrested and officers found a bag in the flat containing tobacco pouches.

Perrio was released on bail pending further inquiries, but was rearrested on Tuesday, January 9 after the results from forensic tests found his DNA present in a swab taken from the scene.

He was then charged and remanded to appear before magistrates the next day.

He appeared before Suffolk Magistrates’ Court in Ipswich yesterday, where he pleaded guilty to burglary, common assault and disobeying a court order.

Perrio received six-month prison sentences for the burglary and assault offences, which will run concurrently.

He was ordered to pay £250 in compensation to the victim and £332 in costs and other charges.

He was also sentenced to three months’ imprisonment to be served consecutively for being in breach of a suspended sentence.

Sergeant Joe Nettleton, of the Bury St Edmunds Community Policing Team, said: “We will not tolerate shopkeepers and other business owners being targeted by criminals and I hope the swift action taken by our officers in this case demonstrates this.

“Crimes against businesses are not victimless – not only are there are financial implications of lost stock and the damage caused to premises – but as shown in this case, the people who work there can come to harm too.”