A COVENTRY man who hid under his bed to avoid arrest after a summer-long crime spree across the city and in Solihull has been jailed.
Thomas McDonagh, who stole almost £240,000 worth of goods and caused nearly £50,000 in criminal damage, was jailed for 12 years and three months on April 12 for 28 separate offences including theft, burglary and handling stolen goods.
All the offences took place between May and August 2023 and saw the 44-year-old steal dozens of cars and number plates, as well as break-ins at businesses across Coventry.
His crimes all followed a similar pattern, with McDonagh stealing the cars or their number plates, before using them to ram the shutters of Coventry industrial units.
Primarily working alone, McDonagh was captured on CCTV in several places stealing cars and motorbikes, tools and other items.
The crimes were so brazenly carried out, with McDonagh clearly identifiable through CCTV footage.
McDonagh even stole a bike from a 12-year-old boy, pushing him off and riding away on it, although it was found and returned to the youngster shortly after.
Despite his efforts to evade capture, McDonagh was tracked down and arrested at a Coventry address at the end of August 2023.
McDonagh, who was found by officers hiding under a bed, was subsequently charged with 49 offences in two separate indictments.
Coventry Police were able to secure charges against McDonagh for 28 of the 49 offences- 15 on the first indictment and 13 on the second.
