Shoplifter stole to fund drug habit (From South Wales Guardian)

Shoplifter stole to fund drug habit

9:00am Friday 5th October 2012 in News

AN HABITUAL shoplifter who targeted Ammanford stores on three separate occasions used the money he earned from stolen goods to fund a cocaine habit, Llanelli magistrates were told.

Neil Malcolm Smith was captured on CCTV taking toiletries from Boots and twice within eleven days from the Co-op.

Smith, aged 45, of 46 Pendine Close, Barry, received a 12-week prison sentence suspended for 12 months after pleading guilty to three counts of theft.

He also received a 12-month supervision requirement andwas told to pay £85 costs along with £209.80 compensation to Boots and £575.26 compensation to the Co-op.

Prosecutor Gerald Neave said the defendant had committed the offences at Boots on March 30 and The Co-op on July 2 and July 13.

On each occasion staff had seen Smith concealing toiletries including razors, razorblades and an air freshener, and leaving the store without paying.

NeilWilliams, for Smith, said he was trying to break his drug habit and was in breach of a 12-month community order imposed in August.

“There’s a guillotine hanging over him,” he added. “He knows that if he commits further offences he will go to prison.”