Prolific thief stole again after death of partner in car crash

A SHOPLIFTER with more than 100 thefts on his record carried out yet another one after turning to drink following the death of his partner in a crash.

Southern Derbyshire Magistrates’ Court heard Jordan WerkowskiFreeman’s girlfriend was killed in August when a car she was in left the road and hit a tree.

Following the tragedy, WerkowskiFreeman, of Long Eaton, began drinking heavily to cope with the loss, his solicitor said.

And weeks later. he entered Farmfoods in the town, stuffed four lamb joints under his coat and sold the meat for more alcohol.

James Close, mitigating, said: “He said he did not even remember doing it. His partner, Tanya Jackson, was killed in a car crash on the A52 shortly before this offence took place. She was killed outright; it was a horrific incident that led to him drinking more.

“He said he could not remember going out, but when he was arrested and showed CCTV footage of him committing the offence he said ‘if they say it’s me then it’s me’ and he has pleaded guilty.

“Since the crash his mind has been in a really bad place.

“When he was sent to prison last June he vowed to stop offending and until this offence that is exactly what he has done. He has called it a blip.”

Peter Bettany, prosecuting, said Werkowski-Freeman entered Farmfoods, at Cross Street Retail Park, on the day of the offence.

He said CCTV captured him placing the meat under his coat and then leaving without making payment.

Mr Bettany said: “He was recognised, arrested and in interview was showed the CCTV and said he was sorry. He said he had been drinking alcohol heavily.”

The defendant, of Cooperative Street, pleaded guilty to one count of shop theft.

Last June he was jailed for 14 months at Derby Crown Court for 15 counts of stealing from stores in the town, Borrowash and Draycott. On that occasion Judge Nirmal Shant QC was told how he had 103 previous theft offences to his name.

Magistrates in Derby handed him a 56-day prison term, suspended for a year, for the most recent theft.

They also ordered him to pay £85 costs and a £128 victim surcharge telling him: “You have been foolish, very, very foolish.”