Shoplifter stole vodka and chocolates in South Tyneside spree
South Shields shoplifter spared jail despite theft spree that saw him nab vodka and chocolates.
A South Tyneside shoplifter has kept his liberty after being praised by a judge for proving he can steer clear of crime – for at least three months.
Liam Robertson, 39, appeared in court on Tuesday, January 20, to admit pinching £163 of goods while committing five thefts in South Shields.
Two were carried out while Robertson, of Ingham Grange, South Shields, was subject to an eight-week jail term, suspended for a year, imposed in November for several same matters.
But District Judge Zoe Passfield refused to immediately sentence him, instead giving him until Tuesday, April 21, to show he could keep his nose clean.
Judge warns he faces jail time - if he offends again
She ordered him to comply with the suspended sentence – by not committing further offences - and to work with the Probation Service on his rehabilitation.
The judge warned he faced jail time if he failed to stick to the bargain and ordered him back to court on that date to check his progress.
When he returned, she heard he had kept his word by complying with those conditions and was making good progress in his life.
Instead of prison, Judge Passfield sentenced him to an 18-month conditional discharge and ordered him to fully financially compensate his retailer victims.
But she did extend the length of his suspended sentence, due to the two thefts while it was active.
She told him: “I deferred your sentence with two conditions, and you have kept to those two conditions. That’s very much to your credit.
“It seems that things have improved for you quite dramatically since you were last in court.
“I said that if you complied with the conditions that this wouldn’t be a prison sentence, and it won’t be.”
Robertson stole a £15 bottle of vodka and £18 of food from Morrisons in Dean Road in two thefts on Wednesday, October 22.
And on Thursday, November 10, he pinched £60 of chocolates from Iceland in Chichester Road.
His spree continued on Wednesday, December 3, when he swiped £20 of washing products from Sainsburys, in Stanhope Road.
He returned to the same Iceland store the next day and made off with £50 of chocolates.
CCTV proved guilt
Prosecutor James Rickerby told South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court: “The defendant was seen on CCTV, walking into the shops and taking items from the shelves.
“He was identified from the CCTV and interviewed under caution, and he made full admissions and pleaded guilty at the first opportunity.
“The last two offences were committed while he was subject to a suspended sentence order.”
David Forrester, defending, said: “I think you can deal with him by way of a compensation order. It’s quite an unusual and complex case.
“He has previously been sectioned for psychosis. He had got a college education in America on a football scholarship but injured himself quite badly.
“There were psychotic episodes, and he has struggled. He’s done well enough to be referred for a deferred sentence.”
For breaching his suspended sentence order, Judge Passfield extended its operational period by three months to February next year.