Serial Shrewsbury shoplifter 'could be out of jail after serving less than half sentence'
A 'brazen' shoplifter who continued to steal even when members of staff were standing next to him and on the phone to the police has been handed a long prison sentence.
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Luke Smith, aged 29, had been found guilty by a jury at Shrewsbury Crown Court last week following a short trial after he denied some 20 charges against Tesco alone.
Smith's barrister told the sentencing judge that his client did not want to get any time knocked off his sentence for pleading guilty so he could 'get his head straight' in prison.
Joseph Keating, prosecuting, said Smith had stolen items valued at £1,251 from Tesco, £447 from Specsavers, £133.30 from the Co-op and items valued at £80 from B&Q.
Offences had been committed earlier this year in Shrewsbury.
“He is 29 years old and has 48 convictions for 105 offences,” said Mr Keating. “65 of those were for theft and related offences.”
Smith, of no fixed address, has served various prison sentences going back to 2016.
