A DRIVER who played a role in stealing a supermarket cash machine was jailed for 16 months.

A group of criminals stole an ATM from Booths in Carnforth on April 4, 2019, Preston Crown Court heard.

The gang left the supermarket with the machine in a 4x4 and trailer before a ‘dramatic collision’ left the ATM lying on the road.

The machine contained £35,000, the court heard.

Jonathon Lee, 30, was convicted of non-domestic burglary He is already serving a 50-month term for burglary.

The court heard Lee had taken refuge in a Kendal hotel following the supermarket burglary.

Recorder David Temkin QC accepted that the defendant was not involved in the Booths burglary but played a role in driving the gang.

He said: “There was a dramatic collision.

“The ATM was left lying in the road.

“A total of £35,000 was found in the machine.

“You were driving badly and there was a serious accident which caused extensive damage.”

The vehicle was found crashed and abandoned on the A6 near Heversham.

The cash machine was also recovered from the roadside.

The judge accepted that the defendant had vowed to move on with his life after previous crimes.

The court heard the defendant, of Fairbairn Road in Peterlee, Country Durham, had 37 previous convictions for 65 offences.

On the day, police were called at around 1.15am to reports of a burglary at the supermarket in Scotland Road.

It was reported that entry had been forced to the shop and that five men left with a cash machine from inside the building.