'I don't even need the money': Lego thief stole £100s from B&M before attack on dad

A 42-year-old man from Ashton Road in Oldham has been given a suspended prison sentence after stealing hundreds of pounds worth of Lego from B&M stores and then attacking his father while on bail. Robert Vaughan stole £144 of Lego from a B&M in Chorley in October, having previously taken £214 worth the week before and another £81 in November. When police caught up with him, he climbed onto a garage roof and was deemed a risk to himself before being arrested.

While awaiting court proceedings, Vaughan got into a WhatsApp argument with his father Barry Potter on December 30. The dispute escalated when Vaughan ripped the TV off the wall, smashed it, and punched his father in the face. Later that evening, Vaughan went to his father's ex-partner's house armed with a meat cleaver, demanding his phone back.

Vaughan, who has 32 previous convictions from 62 offences including burglaries, thefts, criminal damage and assaults, admitted to the offences in court. His father's victim impact statement revealed years of fear, stating Vaughan is a 'deranged individual' who will 'never give up until he achieves his deranged goals.' The court heard Vaughan suffers from serious mental health conditions stemming from a difficult childhood.

Recorder Katie Jones described Vaughan's criminal record as 'appalling' but noted he had shown improvement in staying out of trouble and developed insight into how his mental health affects his offending. Vaughan was sentenced to six months in prison, suspended for 12 months, with 200 hours of unpaid work and 25 rehabilitation days. The case highlights the complex intersection of mental health issues and repeat offending in our community.