Man jailed for offences across Isle of Wight, Fareham & Gosport

A man has been jailed for four and a half years for a series of offences committed in Fareham, Gosport and the Isle of Wight, including burglary and fraud.

Lucas Beau Corke, aged 45, of Barncroft Way in Havant, was charged with the following offences, after a lengthy police investigation:

• Theft from motor vehicle on Thursday 5 December 2019, after a bag and wallet containing cash and bank cards were stolen from a car parked along Ryde sea front.
• Burglary at Seaview Yacht Club on 7 December 2019.
• Burglary at the Aspire building on Dover Street, Ryde, on 9 December 2019, during which some cash was stolen.
• Burglary at an address on Bouldnor Road, Yarmouth, on 21 August 2021 during which wallets containing cash and bank cards were stolen.
• Burglary at the Osborne View Hotel in Hill Head on 8 September 2021, in which handbags containing bank cards were stolen.

On the occasions in which bank cards were stolen this year, Corke used these cards to buy goods from shops and bars in Gosport and on the Isle of Wight, for which he was charged with seven counts of fraud by false representation.

The cards were used as follows:

• 21 August 2021 – Harvey’s in Yarmouth, Yarmouth bus station, and Hunnyhill Stores in Newport.
• 24 August 2021 – Co-op in Bembridge
• 8 September 2021 – Bayside Cabin and Pebble’s Wine Bar on Stokes Road in Gosport, and The Star Pub on Gosport High Street.

Corke pleaded guilty to all of the offences, and appearing at Southampton Crown Court on Monday 8 November, he was jailed for 54 months.

PC Nickie Moreton, from the Isle of Wight Investigation Team, said: “Corke’s offending in this case was brazen, often walking into premises and stealing goods in daylight hours whilst people were nearby.

“Unfortunately for him, a thorough investigation involving the review of CCTV, financial enquiries and identifying witnesses enabled us to place Corke at the scene of each of these crimes.

“I’m pleased that he has now been brought to justice for these incidents, and I hope this reassures the public that we will follow every line of enquiry possible to capture those who offend in this way.”