Officers Surprised Raider

Two police officers who lay in wait at Northcliffe Working Men’s Club surprised the 21-year-old man who broke in, it was alleged at Doncaster West Riding Court yesterday (Thursday). He later admitted breaking into the same club on five previous occasions this year.

Lawrence Smith, of Blyth Street, Denaby, was committed in custody to the next West Riding Quarter Sessions at Wakefield.

Legal aid was granted but an application for bail was turned down.

Smith is accused of breaking and entering Northcliffe club with intent to steal, breaking and entering a house of Kathleen Sayles, stealing property worth £112 16s., and also breaking and entering a house in Denaby and stealing property worth nearly £120 belonging to Patricia Walters.

PC Ronald Butterfield told the court that on October 25 he lay hidden in the working men’s club with another officer. They heard the sound of breaking glass and saw Smith climb through a window and start to use a hammer to break into a one-armed bandit in the concert room.

He said the accused saw them and threw the hammer at them, followed by some of the club chairs.

“The hammer narrowly missed my head,” he alleged. PC Butterfield further alleged that Dunning was arrested after a short struggle and had made a statement admitting that and other offences, including five previous break-ins at the same club.

PC Butterfield said a search of Smith’s home revealed property alleged to have been stolen in the other two charges.