Man jailed for trading his parents' TV for cocaine

Kevin Cuttell, 31, of Hulland Place, Brierley Hill, West Midlands, admitted two charges of theft from his parents and a close friend, in exchange for £120 worth of cocaine.

He was just weeks into an order under a suspended sentence for cannabis production, a breach which he admitted.

At Shrewsbury Crown Court on Tuesday, judge Peter Barrie sentenced Cuttell to 10 months in court, describing the incidents as 'nasty thefts'.

Katie Fox, prosecuting, said in September 2017, Cuttell's parents were on holiday and he was staying at their home in Leegomery, Telford.

His sister was concerned as he had sold his TV, and then noticed a TV set worth £200 had been removed from his parents' home.

Following this, he text his mother saying: "I am so sorry for what I have done, I can't believe I have done it again I've ruined everything. Drink and drugs made me do it."

He then went to meet a friend, Andrew Bagnell, and they went to the Station Hotel in Wellington, where Mr Bagnell was apprehended by police.

He gave Cuttell his keys to go to his house, and Cuttell was later seen by a neighbour carrying away a TV worth £400.

Again, soon after Cuttell text his friend saying he was sorry for what he had done.

When interviewed, he said he had taken the TVs to buy cocaine.

It was found he had taken them to his dealer's address and exchanged each TV set for £60 worth of cocaine.

Kevin Jones, defending, said his client had entered early guilty pleas and has been drug free for three months.

Letters were handed to the judge in mitigation, one from Cuttell's partner, and Mr Jones told the court Cuttell's mother had been reimbursed for the TV.

The court also heard at the time of the offence, Cuttell stopped complying with his suspended sentence requirements.

Judge Barrie said Cuttell cannot bury his head in the sand, and said if he hadn't done so this incident may not have happened.