Serial luggage stealer is banned from every Midland rail station

Nov 16 2010 by Ross McCarthy, Birmingham Mail

A FORMER soldier whose luggage stealing spree caused misery to Birmingham rail passengers has been banned from EVERY station in the Midlands.

Craig Cockerill, aged 30, deliberately targeted long distance travellers passing through New Street Station, netting goods worth more than £5,000 to feed his drugs habit.

At the City’s Crown Court Cockerill, of Herne Field Road, Shard End, was given a Criminal Anti-Social Behaviour Order banning him from entering any rail stations in the West Midlands, Warwickshire, Staffordshire and Derbyshire or going on any trains in those areas.

He had previously admitted three charges of theft and asked for eight similar offences to be taken into consideration.

Mr Recorder David Hall deferred sentence on Cockerill until February 11 after saying he was prepared to give him a chance.

Paul Dhami, prosecuting at Birmingham Crown Court, said on January 1 this year a traveller who boarded a train at New Street for Glasgow discovered that luggage he had put on a rack had disappeared by the time he got to Wolverhampton.

On the same day another passenger, who was going from Coventry to Manchester, also discovered his luggage, which had contained items including a laptop and Christmas gifts worth £1,700, had gone when he got to Birmingham.

Mr Dhami said when CCTV was later viewed Cockerill was identified with the stolen bags.