Prolific thief sent to jail
A PROLIFIC thief will continue to offend until he gets closure for his partner’s death, a court heard.
Dean Collins was caught stealing from Huddersfield shops seven times in less than two months.
His solicitor said that he has been unable to come to terms with his partner’s drug-related death two years ago and will keep struggling until legal proceedings involving her have concluded.
The 41-year-old was jailed for more than six months when he pleaded guilty to the offences.
On July 19, Collins was detained by security staff as he attempted to steal alcohol from Sainsbury’s in Market Street.
On August 16, he made off in a waiting car after swiping booze worth £272 from the Meltham branch of Morrisons.
Collins then targeted Mothercare twice in 24 hours between July 24 and 25. He selected baby clothing worth £180 and ran out of the store without being stopped.
On September 4, Collins took bottles of perfume valued at £160 from TX Maxx, also located in Great Northern Retail Park.
The manager received a call to say that three men had been witnessed running out of the store with the stolen goods and the offence was captured on CCTV.
Despite this Collins returned to the shop to steal more fragrances three days later.
Finally, on September 9, he was seen taking goods worth £300 from Footasylum in King Street.
The total value of the goods taken by Collins was just under £1,000.
The first offence was committed shortly after his release from a six-month custodial term imposed after he threatened to knock out a nurse trying to help him at Lifeline Kirklees in the town.
Collins, of Greenwood Street in Primrose Hill, has 54 convictions for 190 offences.
These include 40 thefts, trespassing on the tracks at Huddersfield train station and attacking his pregnant girlfriend at Dixon’s Milk Ices. His many court appearances have heard how he struggles with a drink and drug addiction. His life became particularly chaotic after he woke up to find his long-term partner dead in bed beside him.
Collins was convicted of drug offences related to her death in October 2017 but is still awaiting the outcome of a crown court trial of a co-defendant who has denied any wrongdoing.
His solicitor Jonathan Slawinski said: “He has a longstanding problem with drugs, coupled with drink, and has been in and out of prison.
“Two years ago he was in a longstanding relationship with a partner who was of a similar ilk. Tragedy befell him when one morning he woke up and discovered that she had died next to him. That’s had a monumental effect on him and he’s awaiting the outcome of a longstanding trial in relation to her death.
“I could stand here all afternoon and go on about how he needs help, and he clearly does. The only way he’ll get resolution is at the finality of this case.”
Magistrates heard that Collins will continue to offend until he gets closure because he currently lacks any motivation to address his offending behaviour. They were told that he also struggled to cope financially after being released from prison.
Mr Slawinski said: “It was the usual problem for somebody coming out of prison that the discharge grant doesn’t hold them.
“He comes out and the offences occur. He has not been able to maintain his finances, he’s using on top of his methadone script and his lifestyle becomes chaotic.”
Magistrates jailed Collins for a total of 26 weeks.