Last updated at 21:02, Thursday, 22 December 2011

A leading detective has praised the West Cumbrian public for helping to ensure that those responsible for some of the area’s worst crimes do porridge while everyone else tucks into their Christmas dinner.

Police this week issued a rogues’ gallery of criminals from the area who are behind bars this Christmas for offences ranging from robbery and assault to possessing drugs with intent to supply.

The eight have all been jailed this year and are serving sentences totalling more than 30 years.

Detective Inspector Adrian Johnson said that police could not have secured the convictions without help from the public.

He said: “They have supported us by giving evidence, reporting things and having the confidence to come forward.

“A simple call about something not quite right often leads to positive policing.

“Without the public support we would have greater difficulty in achieving our goal of making West Cumbria a safe place to live.

“The key message we want to give to the public is that they spend part of their taxes on the police and we are working hard on behalf of them.

“We need to work with the public and we need their continued support so we want them to pick up the phone if they want to report anything.”

Those spending Christmas behind bars includ Darren Michael Hilland, 31, of Devonshire Street, Workington and Carl Lister Wilkinson, 31, of Fountains Avenue, Workington, who threatened employees and stole cash from Mills Newsagents in Moorclose.

Dale Wardle, 48, of Braithwaite, and Donatas Andziulis, 24, of Belle Isle Street, Workington, were jailed for possessing a firearm in Workington town centre with intent to cause fear and violence.

Detective Sergeant Ralph Henderson said: “We are making an effort to keep people safe and people have to put their trust in us.

“If people come forward we can usually take really positive action. None of these crimes are victimless.”

Det Insp Johnson said he hoped that the convictions would send out a message to others.

He said: “It is an incredibly difficult time for the people in jail, not just for them but their families and their victims.

“They will be spending Christmas in prison this year, away from family and friends and all of the celebrations.

“It can be traumatic for people so the message to people is don’t put yourself and other families through it by committing crime.”

First published at 19:20, Thursday, 22 December 2011
Published by http://www.timesandstar.co.uk