Prolific Shropshire shoplifter to serve a year in prison
A prolific thief who stole whisky, champagne and cigarettes from supermarkets and convenience stores across Shropshire has been jailed for a year.
Martin Williams targeted Co-op stores in Gobowen and Church Stretton and a One Stop outlet in Shrewsbury.
He carried out three crimes in three days in May – including stealing from the Gobowen store in The Cross two days in a row – before hitting the Church Stretton store on August 2.
He used excuses such as having to get his wallet off his girlfriend outside to escape from shops with goods when confronted by staff, Shrewsbury Magistrates Court heard.
Williams, whose criminal history already included 147 offences, including 60 of theft, admitted taking items such as meat, cigarettes, whisky and champagne from shops across Shropshire when he appeared at court yesterday.
He also admitted two breaches of an anti-social behaviour order which bans him from all railway stations in England and Wales.
The court was told the first incident occurred on May 17 at the Co-op shop in Gobowen, where Williams took joints of meat and jars of coffee worth £130. He returned to the same store a day later where he took meat, champagne and cigarettes valued at £139.
On the same day he was found by police at Gobowen railway station in breach of his ASBO and in possession of stolen goods.
Williams was released on police bail but a day later on May 19 stole cigarettes and bottles of Coca-Cola from the One Stop shop in Ditherington Road in Shrewsbury.
On August 2, Williams made off with two bottles of Jack Daniels, two bottles of Smirnoff vodka, two bottles of Gordon's gin and one bottle of Courvoisier brandy from the Co-op store in Church Stretton. He ran from the scene after staff were alerted but was found with the items by police at Church Stretton railway station.
Mr Ian Durant, for Williams, said his client has struggled with being passed between prisons around the country and being released in often unfamiliar places with little money to get home.
"He tells me he wants to get off drugs and stop this ridiculous offending," Mr Durant said.
Magistrates gave Williams a 12-month prison sentence, after giving him consecutive two-month terms for each of the six offences he admitted – four of theft from a shop and two of breaching anti-social behaviour orders.
