Trio burgled Romano Caffe Pizzeria armed with crowbar

Ross Manning, Connor Mayhew and Adrian Mullins broke into Romano Caffe Pizzeria in the early hours of August 17, 2023. 

A court heard how the three were armed with at least one crowbar, gloves and were wearing hoodies when they forced their way through door of the Canute Road restaurant at around 3am. 

They set about stealing alcoholic drinks as well as the drawer for the till which contained around £560 in cash. 

The trio left the scene in the van they had arrived in but returned a short time later. 

Romano Caffe Pizzeria in Southampton (Image: Google Maps)

But a security guard had called the police, causing them to drive away at speed. 

They were caught around three minutes later with Manning behind the wheel and a number of items including stolen drinks and cash being found in the vehicle. 

Mayhew then tried to run off but was caught nearby with a small amount of cannabis on his person. 

The total value of the loss to the restaurant was £2,184, including lost earnings from not being able to open straight away the next day and damage to the door. 

Mayhew and Mullins denied the burglary but were convicted by a jury last month whilst Manning pleaded guilty to the offence.

Mayhew pleaded guilty to possessing a controlled drug of Class B at his sentencing hearing on Wednesday. 

READ MORE: Southampton: Three men charged over pizzeria break-in

Prosecutor Adrian Fleming said the offence is aggravated by the men's previous convictions. 

Mayhew, 29, of Abercrombie Gardens, Southampton has 33 previous convictions for 60 offences including a previous burglary. 

Mullins, 37, of Wide Lane also has a number of burglaries throughout his record of 16 previous convictions for 29 offences. 

Manning, 32, of Willis Road, Southampton has fewer convictions but had been on a community order.

Andrew Stone, mitigating for Mayhew, said the last time his client was convicted of burglary was 2017, adding that he is not a "habitual burglar".

Christopher Gaiger said Mullins hasn't been convicted since 2015, making reference to the impact on his family if he was to be jailed. 

Laura Duff, representing Manning, said he had been out of trouble for eight years adding: "He tells me that he is remorseful about the impact of his actions on this business."

Mayhew and Mullins both received a 14-month sentence suspended for two years with 280 hours of unpaid work each. 

They must both pay £1,092 compensation.

Manning received an eight-month sentence suspended for two years with a mental health treatment requirement, 20 rehabilitation days and a £150 fine.

Judge Peter Henry told them "you are extremely lucky", making reference to the curfew that they had been on whilst they awaited sentence. 

A deprivation order was made for the items recovered by the police.