Thief banned from all UK schools and universities

A prolific thief who targeted students and teachers has been banned from entering all schools and universities in the UK.

John Tinney, 62 and from Glasgow, stole personal possessions to fund his alcohol addiction, Newcastle Crown Court heard.

His latest offence saw him take a man's wallet from a restricted area at Northumbria University in Newcastle on 28 February.

Tinney was jailed for eight months and made subject of a five-year long criminal behaviour order after he admitted burglary.

The court heard Tinney entered an area only accessible with a swipe card in the Sandyford Building and took a wallet from a man's coat.

Judge Carolyn Scott said the victim saw Tinney but assumed he was a staff member as he appeared to have an ID tag.

The man said the loss of his wallet had caused "constant worrying" and added "a lot of stress to [his] already busy life".

He said he was especially sorry to lose his driving licence and a good luck charm given to him by his mother.

Prosecutor Kate Barnes said Tinney, who had 41 convictions for 177 offences, had a "long history of entering educational properties" and stealing possessions.

Before the latest theft, his previous offences were committed at Lancashire University in Preston earlier this year, the court heard.

In mitigation, Jordan Parkinson said Tinney, of Ashgill Road, was an alcoholic who stole to fund his addiction.

Judge Scott made the order banning Tinney from entering any UK educational establishment, including schools, universities, colleges and student accommodation, for five years.

She said he had "simply lost the right for now to visit those locations without consequences", adding breaching the order could result in imprisonment.

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