Life ‘turned around’ (From South Wales Guardian)

Life ‘turned around’

11:23am Wednesday 2nd December 2009

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AN AMMANFORD man who stole £60 worth of lamb from the town’s Co-op store to fund his addiction has been let off with a conditional discharge.

David Thomas, of 25 Penybanc Road, admitted two charges of shoplifting when he appeared before Llanelli magistrates.

Prosecutor Dennis Davies told the court that the 32-year-old struck at the store on September 6 and September 29.

“The only thing I can really add to this is that he was caught on CCTV and arrested,” he said.

Peter Rhys-Jones, defending, said Thomas had turned his life around since the offences were committed and was no longer associating himself with drug users.

Thomas was in custody in October while awaiting sentence for another theft and Mr Rhys-Jones said his client was grateful for his time inside. “He says it helped him break free from his associates and his drug habits,” he said.

“He’s now a very different person from the one who committed these crimes and the officer who interviewed him was very complimentary about how he is changing,” he added.

Mr Rhys-Jones told the court that Thomas had admitted selling the stolen meat to fund a drug habit, but refused to admit who had bought it.

“There are a few establishments in Ammanford that would be in very difficult situations if he said, because they knew they were handling stolen goods,” he said.

Magistrates opted to grant Thomas a 12-month conditional discharge and ordered him to pay £60 compensation to Co-op.

He was also ordered to pay £50 of the £85 costs requested by the prosecution.

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