Drug-user told now is the time to sort life out

OFFENDER WITH ‘HORRENDOUS’ RECORD BACK BEFORE COURT

A LONG-TERM drug user who has racked up a “horrendous” criminal record has been told now is the time to get help if he is to turn his back on years of addiction and offending.

Jamie Sanderson, who has amassed a record of almost 120 offences, appeared at Leicester Magistrates’ Court after he was arrested following a confrontation with police on Sunday, July 5.

The 40-year-old admitted a single charge of aggressive or threatening behaviour toward the officers after they said they wanted to search him because he matched the description of a thief they believed was stealing from cars in and around the city centre.

Magistrate Jennifer Joannu told him: “Nearly half your life has gone has it not? You need to say to yourself ‘I am getting too old for this.’”

Prosecutor Kwok Wan told the court Sanderson, of Latimer Court in Anstey, was recently been released from a prison sentence imposed in April.

He was spotted in West Street, near Leicester prison at 11am.

Mr Wan said: “Police officers had their attention drawn to Mr Sanderson because he fitted the description of someone who they had been advised may have been trying to steal from motor vehicles.

“The officers advised him it was their intention to search him.

“Unfortunately, he attempted to walk away and refused to stop.

“The officers tried to detain him but his behaviour escalated and he began swearing and acting in a manner which caused distress to the officers.”

A probation service official told the court Sanderson has missed appointments with a specialist support worker at drug and alcohol treatment charity Turning Point since he was released from prison in April.

Sentencing him, Mrs Joannou said: “We have looked at your previous convictions and they are really quite horrendous – they go on and on and on.

“It looks like whatever the courts or probation recommend you don’t do anything about it.

“This public order offence does not carry a prison sentence and we are not looking at a community order for you. “But again, it’s another offence.” Richard Jennings, defending, said: “Unfortunately, he had been the victim of an assault and robbery and he felt very much aggrieved the police had stopped him.

“This is what sparked him into shouting and swearing in the street.

“This was an unfortunate incident but I would say there was no serious alarm or distress caused to the officers or anyone else.”

Magistrates conditionally discharged Sanderson for 12 months. He was ordered to pay prosecution costs of £85 and a victim surcharge of £22.