Prolific thief targeted lockers at spas in The Mere and Mottram Hall

Nicholas Hughes targeted luxury facilities at venues including The Mere Golf Club in Knutsford and Mottram Hall in Wilmslow.

The 51-year-old stole high value and sentimental items including watches, car keys cash and bank cards.

READ > Paedo jailed for preying on children in Cheshire East

Nicholas Hughes was in possession of victims' driving licences when he was arrested (Image: Cheshire Police)

The brazen thief snatched possessions whilst people were exercising in the gym or enjoying the spa.

Then he defrauded the victims out of more than £18,000 using the stolen bank cards in fraudulent transactions in a variety of locations.

Hughes, of Guilsborough Road, Binley, Coventry, appeared at Birmingham Crown Court on Thursday, October 24, where he was sentenced to three-and-a-half years in prison.

The 51-year-old had previously pleaded guilty to 14 counts of theft and 12 counts of fraud covering Cheshire and various other counties between February 2023 and June 2024, specifically targeting victims using luxury spa and gym facilities.

The incidents took place at the following locations:  Mere Golf Club, Knutsford - 22 February 2023, Ribby Hall Village Hotel, Preston - 24 April 2023 (X3),  Municipal Hotel, Liverpool - 28 July 2023,  Nuffield Health, Chichester – 11 September 2023,  Goodwood Hotel, Chichester – 24 November 2023, Shrigley Hall, Macclesfield – 8 February 2024 (X2),  China Fleet, Plymouth – 13 May 2024, Brandshatch Place Hotel, Kent – 10 June 2024, Craxton Wood Hotel and Spa, Chester – 13 June 2024, Municipal Hotel, Liverpool – 22 June 2024, Mottram Hall, Wilmslow – 28 June 2024.

Operation Artefact was commenced by Ellesmere Port Proactive Team in June 2024 after receiving reports of a high value theft from Craxton Wood Hotel and Spa in Chester.

Along with a watch, the victim’s bank cards and driving licence had been stolen from his locker, with the cards subsequently being used in several fraudulent transactions in Ellesmere Port.

A detailed investigation was then commenced by officers who quickly identified Hughes as a suspect.

Subsequent checks on Hughes identified that he was wanted for similar offences in several different counties throughout the UK.

Hughes, who has numerous previous convictions for similar offences, was targeting spa and leisure facilities around the country, breaking into his victims’ lockers whilst they were using the facilities.

He stole high value items and sentimental jewellery from the lockers, including watches, car keys, cash, and bank cards.

In many cases, he then went on to use stolen bank cards for fraudulent transactions, making purchases at a variety of locations, including betting shops and supermarkets.

Cheshire Police officers commenced a manhunt for Hughes, and he was subsequently located and arrested at Bath Train Station on July 10, this year. 2024.

At the time of his arrest, Hughes was in possession of two of the victims’ driving licences, plus clothing which he was wearing at several of the offence locations.

He was ultimately charged with several high value theft and fraud offences.

The total value of items stolen was £23,495.

The total value of the fraudulent transactions was £18,012.

Following sentencing, DC Mike Rogers said: “Hughes is a prolific offender and is now rightly behind bars for his appalling behaviour.

“He deliberately chose to target luxury facilities, accessing the changing rooms and stealing from people’s lockers as they were exercising in the gym or enjoying the spa.

“His brazen efforts saw him steal from locations across the country, using the exact same method.

“He even stole from three different lockers in the same hotel changing room in one day.

“The items he stole were high value and some of the jewellery was also incredibly sentimental to the victims and unfortunately can never be replaced.

“Bringing Hughes to justice was a fantastic team effort from Ellesmere Port Proactive CID.

“A large amount of work went into the investigation, allowing officers to finally put a stop to his offending in July by arresting him in Bath.

“I hope this serves as a reminder of our commitment to making Cheshire a hostile environment for criminals – you will be caught, and we will bring you to justice.”