THREE JAILED FOR £1M MOUNJARO THEFT FROM ST ALBANS SITE

Mark Harding, Robert Townsend and Peter Costello were each sentenced to five years and three months in prison at St Albans Crown Court on Wednesday for burgling a pharmaceutical distribution site. The three men broke into the facility on Handley Page Way, St Albans, on 24 January by climbing through a duct behind an air conditioning unit and forcing open a walk-in refrigerator. They stole approximately £944,545 worth of Mounjaro, a weight loss drug. Judge Jonathan Mann KC described the operation as "highly organised" and "sophisticated" after reviewing extensive CCTV footage presented during the trial.

The burglary involved careful planning, according to prosecution submissions presented to the court. Costello and Harding used tools to cut through the air conditioning unit, then climbed using a ledge to avoid triggering alarms, indicating advance knowledge of the site's security measures. Townsend remained outside as a lookout and had visited the location a week prior to conduct reconnaissance. All three were arrested on 11 February. Harding and Townsend also pleaded guilty to possession of criminal property after police discovered £35,000 concealed in a picnic basket in Harding's wardrobe and £19,900 behind an extractor fan in Townsend's home.

Judge Mann stated that substantial sums had been generated through the distribution of the stolen Mounjaro, though the drugs themselves have not been recovered. The prosecution alleged the burglary involved "advanced targeting and scoping" of the building prior to the break-in. Costello, Harding and Townsend reside in Sutton and Feltham respectively. The stolen medication remains missing.