Thief jailed over £20,000 burglaries of fruit and veg in Newport
A man has been sentenced to two years in prison for his role in a series of burglaries in Newport where more than £20,000 worth of fruit and vegetables were stolen.
The raids at Jupiter Marketing Ltd were carried out over a nine-day period in September.
At Shrewsbury Crown Court yesterday Darius Zitkauskas, 30, of Chervil Rose, Heath Town, Wolverhampton, was sentenced for his part in the burglaries.
The court heard Zitkauskas, a native of Lithuania, was a former employee at Jupiter Marketing Ltd but took part in the burglary to fund debts owed due to his drug addiction.
Phillip Beardwell, prosecuting, said: "In September the firm noticed there were discrepancies with stock.When they checked CCTV they saw a Mercedes Sprinter van had been arriving on site early in the morning and the driver seemed to know the pass code.
"The van attended on September 2, 4, 5, 6 and 8. Stock checks showed £20,295 worth of fruit and vegetables had been taken during September.
"That led the firm to increase security with a member of staff remaining on site. The van attended again on September 11 and that member of staff alerted the police.
"The police found the defendant loading fruit and vegetables into the back of a van."
Mr Beardwell added two small bags containing heroin and cocaine were found in the van.
Zitkauskas admitted the burglaries at the fruit and vegetable firm, based at the Audley Avenue Enterprise Park. He also admitted possession of cocaine and heroin.
Chris Grainger, for Zitkauskas, said his client was "deeply sorry" and had come to England for a better life due to his father being violent.
Judge Robin Onions sentenced Zitkauskas to two years in prison for the burglaries, possession of the drugs and for driving the Mercedes Sprinter van without insurance.He said: "I accept you came to this country for a better life. Many people have done over the years.
"But you succumbed to the use of drugs. Jupiter Marketing is not responsible for your drug addiction."
