Thief’s Spice prison fears
ARECOVERING drug addict has voiced concerns over the ‘absolutely prolific’ amount of the viciously addictive drug Spice in prison.
Prolific shoplifter Dean Tylor was jailed by magistrates last month for shoplifting - just weeks after a crown court judge gave the 41-year-old a chance to avoid jail for 19 similar offences.
The Observer reported in December how Tylor went on a shoplifting spree around Accrington town centre at the end of 2017 and stole more than £1,600 worth of items.
After he admitted 19 counts of shoplifting his sentencing was adjourned for six weeks to see if the defendant had a ‘genuine resolve’ to turn his life around. He was also hit with a crimi- nal behaviour order banning him from entering the town centre.
At the sentencing hearing at Preston Crown Court, the judge heard that since the adjournment, Tylor had been convicted by magistrates of stealing a £200 electric shaver from Boots in Blackburn on January 8, and jailed for eight weeks.
But Judge Simon Medland QC again decided to adjourn the sentencing, finding Tylor, who was in custody at the time of the hearing, had shown ‘sufficient grounds for optimism’.
Defence barrister Mark Stuart said Tylor is ‘very determined’ to give up drugs and ‘break the cycle’ but is worried about the large amounts of Spice currently in the prison system. He told the court: “He says it’s absolutely prolific.
“He’s been in custody enough times over the last few years to know the difference and he says it’s just rocketed. He’s keeping out of its way at the moment but he’s worried about that and him taking it because of his addictive personality.
“He is still very determined as much as he can to give up the drugs. He does need considerable help both in terms of accommodation and a number of mental health issues.”
Mr Stuart requested the sentence be postponed to see if a ‘proper package can be put together whereby he may get some help and assistance that breaks the cycle’.
He said: “The defendant says he’s 41 and does want to stop taking drugs and stop shoplifting because otherwise he has nowhere to live and the circle never stops.”
Judge Simon Medland QC told Tylor, formerly of Wellington Street, Accrington, that there are ‘sufficient grounds for optimism in this case’ to postpone the sentence hearing until February 22.
He said: “While I acknowledge the genuineness of your desire to rid yourself of drugs the fact of the matter is all sentencing options will be considered including immediate imprisonment on the next occasion.”