Jail for drug addict who stored £4k of stolen goods in flat
37-YEAR-OLD ‘SPURNED’ HIS LAST CHANCE TO STAY OUT OF PRISON
A DRUG addict “spurned” his chance to stay out of jail after storing £4,000 worth of stolen goods in his flat.
Craig Thompson, 37, was given a deferred sentence on September 1 for burglary and fraud and was told to keep out of trouble.
This lasted six weeks when “trouble came to him” after a pair of thieves told him he would get “a good slap” if he didn’t store items they stole from a Yodel delivery van on October 26.
Thompson, of Bathurst Street, was told “you have blown the opportunity” at Hull Crown Court and will spend two years and two months in prison.
It was heard that Thompson was given an 18-month deferred sentence on September 1, this year, after numerous offences of dishonesty, including attempts to steal from the same grocery store.
Six weeks later, on October 26, a Yodel driver was making a delivery in Coltman Street but left his keys in the ignition. When he turned around, he gave chase as he saw a man drive away in his van and disappear in Hessle Road.
“His personal phone was still in the van,” said Ms Baines. “He and his manager tracked it to Bathurst Street.
“They attended that area and found it parked at a block of flats. They found several parcels and two large parcels were missing at an estimated value of £4,000.
“The driver also had to pay the excess of £1,500 for the missing van key.”
Thompson was captured on CCTV helping move items from the van and carrying them into his flat.
Two days later, police forced entry to his home, where they found a 65in TV.
Thompson returned to the address and was arrested on suspicion of handling stolen goods.
He told police: “I didn’t want the stolen goods in my flat. I also have some amphetamine in my pocket.”
He later said in interview he was forced to store the goods in his flat by a “harder person” who said he would give him a “good slap” if he didn’t comply.
“He told them he was going to call the police,” said Ms Baines. “He didn’t as he said he was not a grass.”
Thompson has 16 convictions for 49 offences, 27 of which are for theft, three drug-related offences, and he also has a record of previous convictions for handling stolen goods.
Mitigating barrister Richard Thompson told Judge Mark Bury his client was “determined to stay out of trouble” and on this occasion “trouble came to him”.
“The defendant seems to attract that sort of attention,” said Mr Thompson.
Judge Bury replied: “The other interpretation is that the thieves knew exactly where to go.”
Mr Thompson continued: “He is an individual with a number of personal problems and historically he has turned to drug use to try to deal with it and that has left him with addictions to various substances over the years.
“He says he was targeted on this occasion and pressured to co-operate.”
The defendant has also been the target for bullying while he has been in custody, according to his barrister.
It was heard that when he first arrived at HMP Doncaster he was locked in with an inmate who “should have been in a single cell”.
The inmate poured boiling over Thompson while he slept.
“He is simply somebody who finds it difficult to say no to people and is targeted because of his vulnerabilities,” said mitigating barrister Richard Thompson.
Addressing the defendant, Judge Bury reminded him of what he said when they last met on September 1.
“I gave you an opportunity to prove yourself,” he said. “You have spurned it.
“Two people committed a brazened opportunistic theft of a delivery van and £4,000 worth of property was taken into your flat.
“Clearly the offence was opportunistic and there was no pre-planning involved. As far as you’re concerned both thieves obviously knew they could trust you to fence the property.
“Whether they were trusting you because they knew you would not have the bottle to report them or you were a willing participant is not clear.
“You have blown the opportunity. You will remember what I told you. If you reoffended in the next six months you will get 18 months.”
Thompson will serve the 18-month sentence that was originally deferred in September. A further eight months has been added to his sentence for the offence of handling stolen goods. water