Prolific Telford shoplifter jailed for three months

Peter Wilson went into Aldi in Snedshill, Telford, and shoved two joints of beef inside his jacket before attempting to leave the store without paying, the town's magistrates court was told yesterday.

Miss Sara Beddow, prosecuting, said the 43-year-old, of Park Road, Donnington, was detained by security staff until police arrived at the shop on May 16 this year.

She told the court the offence was committed while Wilson still had a suspended jail sentence hanging over his head for taking £21 worth of items from another shop in December last year.

Wilson admitted shoplifting from Aldi as well as being in breach of the suspended term when he appeared at court yesterday.

Magistrates invoked the two-month sentence for the December 2013 shoplifting offence and added another month to it for the latest crime, meaning Wilson must serve three months in prison.

Mr Shakeel Ahmed, for Wilson, said his client had long running drugs problems.

He said he had attempted to steal the meat to sell on to buy food as his benefits had been stopped.