Killer with £50-a-day drug habit has almost 130 offences on record

[dutchman]

Daniel McDaid is back behind bars after pleading guilty to three burglaries at a shop in Coventry

A man who has served a jail term for killing a frail Coventry pensioner in a subway mugging, and who has more than 100 offences on his record, is back behind bars.

Daniel McDaid was jailed for ten months by a judge at Warwick Crown Court after pleading guilty to three burglaries at the same Spar store.

McDaid, 40, who was living at the Salvation Army hostel in Coventry, had targeted the Spar store in Hay Lane, in the city centre, for the first time in the early hours of February 6.

After breaking into the shop he stole four bottles of spirits – and then returned just two or three hours later to steal four more.
Prosecution statement

Prosecutor Suzanne Francis said that when he was arrested, McDaid made no comment, and was granted bail.

Then on February 21 he broke into the store again by smashing a window in the front door with a brick.

But he was seen by a member of the public who contacted the police and prevented him from leaving by pushing him back inside as he tried to get out through the broken door.

After trying to get into an office, he forced his way into a store room and damaged a further door to get away.

When McDaid, who in January had had a sentence for earlier shoplifting matters deferred until July, was arrested he explained he had committed them to support a £50 a day drug habit.

Miss Francis added that McDaid had 129 ‘theft and kindred offences’ on his record.

And in 2008 had been jailed for ten years for offences including the manslaughter of a frail 79-year-old who had died after he had mugged her in a city subway.

Jailing McDaid, Judge Andrew Lockhart QC told him: “On the 23rd of January the justices gave you a chance when they deferred sentence on six shoplifting matters.

“But on the 6th of February you went to the Spar and stole bottles of drink. I don’t know whether you drank them yourself. I doubt it, because you returned later and stole another four bottles.

“You were arrested and bailed, and on bail 15 days later you went back and kicked the door down and stole £401 worth of alcohol.”

[dutchman]

From the archives...

Coventry OAP's killer gets 10 years for subway death



THE KILLER of a frail Coventry pensioner who died after being mugged in a city subway has been jailed for 10 years.

Daniel McDaid, aged 29, of Bridgecote, Willenhall, pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of 79-year-old widow Margaret Whiting at Birmingham Crown Court yesterday.

McDaid attacked Mrs Whiting, of Spon End, Coventry, as she walked through the subway between Spon Street and Upper Spon Street on September 10 2007. She was on her way home after collecting her pension from Corporation Street Post Office.

The mother-of-three suffered a broken hip during the attack and died from her injuries at University Hospital, Walsgrave the next day.

A passer-by chased the McDaid after the incident and managed to recover all of Mrs Whiting's belongings.

The death of Mrs Whiting, a former school dinner lady, caused a huge public outcry and outpourings of sympathy for the family of the popular old lady.

The shocking crime prompted a large-scale murder investigation, which included officers revisiting the scene of the mugging with leaflets showing a photograph with Mrs Whiting in the search for witnesses.

Judge Frank Chapman told McDaid: "Your life has been in the words of your own counsel 'useless and feckless'.

"You plainly targeted her because she was small and sued a stick to walk and in your own words she was an easy opportunity."

Speaking at the time of his mum's death Peter Whiting explained how his family had fallen apart over the killing of his "kind and decent mum".

Mr Whiting, aged 41, from Warwickshire, said: "My mother did not deserve this. She was one of life's nice people. She was kind, considerate, honest and decent."

Mr Whiting, one of three sons, said his mum had used that subway for many years and felt safe using it.

"She was, mentally, a very tough woman. She had no problems until that Monday." he said.

McDaid had denied murdering Mrs Whiting, a plea which was accepted by the court, but admitted manslaughter.

He was jailed for five years for the manslaughter of Mrs Whiting and a further five years for two unrelated burglaries and an an attempted burglary, all in Coventry.

[dutchman]

And that was just after being released from jail for mugging a woman on a mobility scooter in the exact same subway!

[dutchman]

Face of prolific Coventry criminal who's been jailed for 130th offence



This is the face of one of Coventry's most prolific criminals who's been jailed for his 130th offence.

West Midlands Police today issued a photo of Daniel McDaid, who has been jailed for ten months by a judge at Warwick Crown Court on Friday, March 8, after pleading guilty to three burglaries at the same Spar store.

McDaid, 40, who was living at the Salvation Army hostel in Coventry, had targeted the Spar store in Hay Lane, in the city centre, for the first time in the early hours of February 6.

After breaking into the shop he stole four bottles of spirits – and then returned just two or three hours later to steal four more.

The court heard McDaid, who has a £50-a-day drug habit, was jailed for 10 years in 2008 for manslaughter after killing a frail Coventry pensioner in a subway mugging.

[dutchman]

He was jailed for just FIVE years for the killing of Margaret Whiting, the other five were for lesser offences.

Mrs Whiting lived in the tower block next to the subway entrance. She was on her way to collect the pension of an even older lady who lived in the same tower block. Her family had begged her not to use that subway.