A MAN re-burgled a convenience store before sending the police on a deadly and frightening high speed car chase through Barry.
Matthew Finch had already been sentenced to six months in jail for burgling Premier Store, on Station Road in Dinas Powys in 2023.
Finch was released in May 2024 and decided to burgle the same store again on June 9 before sending the police on a deadly high-speed chase through Barry.
Finch drove at high speed through streets including Barry Road and Broad Street.
The owner of the store in question lamented why he wasn’t allowed to attach shutters to his windows – going through a prolonged planning process to get permission to do so.
In fact, the community has tried to help move the issue along, starting a petition in support of the store getting the shutters.
The owner of the store was concerned it had become an easy target.
In a victim impact statement, they said: “I have owned the shop two years and it has become an integral part of the community. I have spoken to the council about getting shutters fitted. The resident have got behind me to get shutters fitted starting a petition, (but) this should not be the case to tackle these criminals.”
On the day in question, Finch, 50, stole vapes and alcohol to an estimated value of £1,500.
He was also armed. He used a crowbar to enter the store and a knuckleduster was found in his car.
Finch sent the police on a deadly chase through roads in Barry (Image: CPS)
It was said he was trying to pay off debts (Image: SWP)
Finch has an extensive criminal record holding 49 convictions for 107 offences.
In mitigation, it was said Finch’s desperate behaviour came about due to debts he owed including trying to pay off family debts.
Finch was previously employed as a groundworker in Barry and the surrounding area, but after losing his job he ended up re-associating with drugs and the type of people that come with them.
At Newport Crown Court on July 23. Finch, of Greenwood Close, Twyn Yr Odyn, was sentenced to 28 months in prison.
He got 18 months for the burglary, two months concurrent for each weapons offence and 10 months consecutively for drug driving, with one month concurrent to this for driving while disqualified.
He was also banned from the roads for two years.
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