South Tyneside knifeman jailed after breaking into restaurant for lockdown lock-in

Plastered Anthony Maylia, 28, of Kirkstone Avenue, Jarrow, has been given a sobering eight-month term for the raid at the Vespa eatery in the town’s Roman Road.

He was so sozzled from his heavyweight session on May 11 that he collapsed at a police station after his arrest and was rushed to hospital.

Maylia appeared in the dock at South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court still dressed in his NHS pyjamas to admit burglary and being in possession of a blade.

District Judge Kathryn Meek criticised him for taking advantage of the restaurant being closed due to the coronavirus outbreak.

He climbed in through an open window and drank litre bottles of Jack Daniel’s whiskey, Captain Morgan rum and Famous Grouse whisky, the court heard.

But he was spotted boozing by a passing staff member who filmed him from the street and the owner then detained Maylia until police arrived.

Prosecutor Glenda Beck said: “The restaurant was closed due to Covid-19.

“The owner attends the restaurant to get belongings. The defendant is at the bar drinking a bottle of Jack Daniel’s whiskey.

“The defendant then tried to climb out the window. The owner prevents him doing so.

“Other bottles are seen and the police attend. He was found in possession of a knife.”

Val Bell, defending, said Maylia had been doing well since his release from a fully-served six-year jail term in September 2018.

She added: “Earlier this year, problems started. He was unwell and people were concerned for him.

“He had an hallucination and was taken to hospital and tests showed it was kidney failure. He was kept in hospital for two weeks.

“He was very unwell. He has then deteriorated and has taken alcohol.

“On the day in question, he was passing the restaurant and he saw that the window was slightly ajar.

“Once he’s got in there he’s just started to drink. He’s consumed about three litres of spirits.

“He was aware that a member of staff was filming him through the window.

“He had a small knife in his pocket, he can’t remember where he took it from, it could have been his mother’s.

“He was in a highly intoxicated state and collapsed at the police station. He had to be taken to hospital. He’s still in his hospital pyjamas.”

Maylia had a number of previous convictions for possessing a weapon, the hearing was told.

District Judge Meek told him that due to the nature of its closure his was a “very serious” offence.

She jailed him for six months for knife possession and two months for burglary to run consecutively.

A further week’s sentence, to run concurrently for non-payment of a previous victim surcharge, was also imposed.

Maylia must pay a new £156 victim surcharge.

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