SERIAL THIEF HAS ‘DRUGS BLOCKER’ IMPLANT
DEVICE FITTED IN BID TO HELP CITY-CENTRE ‘SCOURGE’ STOP PROLIFIC OFFENDING
A PROLIFIC thief branded a ‘scourge’ on Manchester city centre businesses had a ‘narcotics blocker’ implanted in a bid to avoid being jailed under burglary sentencing legislation.
Michael Conway-Williams, 39, had the device ‘fitted in his upper arm,’ a judge was told.
It is understood they release a chemical into the body to nullify the effects of a particular drug, helping to suppress addiction and cravings.
Conway-Williams, who has 59 criminal convictions for 174 separate offences and was described by his barrister as ‘the poster child for the revolving door prisoner,’ faces jail under the so-called ‘three strikes’ legislation.
He could be sent down for a minimum of three years after pleading guilty to his latest string of burglaries, including the theft of a pilot’s luggage from a hotel room.
But judge Recorder Stephen Bedford, sitting at Manchester Crown Court, was told Conway-Williams had the device fitted so he could be considered for a specialist programme.
Sentencing was adjourned yesterday and Conway-Williams remanded in custody.
His barrister Andrew Gilmore said he could have been taken directly to specialist-supported accommodation which offers a substance misuse recovery programme for drug or alcohol addicts. All residents there must be drug-free.
Mr Gilmore said Conway-Williams opted to have the device fitted in a bid to transform his life and secure a place on the programme as an alternative to immediate custody.
He said: “He’s the poster child for the revolving door prisoner.”
Conway-Williams, formerly of Crumpsall, committed three burglaries ‘within days’ of him being released from prison on licence for previous offences, the court was told.
Duncan Wilcock, prosecuting, said: “Regrettably the defendant appears to have been a scourge on establishments in the city centre.
“There have been incidents at hotels and convenience stores, all with similar modus operandi. He has sneaked into areas to steal. There is a pattern of behaviour that when released, within a short period of time, more of the same offending appears to take place.” Mr Wilcock said 95 of the 174 offences leading to his convictions were for theft. On May 2, the court heard Conway-Williams, who was given an ASBO for begging in 2010, accessed a room at the Radisson Park Inn Hotel on Cheetham Hill Road and stole a pilot’s luggage. The victim, a second officer from Hong Kong working for Cathay Pacific, had flown in to Manchester Airport just hours earlier. Conway-Williams escaped with his pilot’s licence, iPad and cash.
Mr Wilcock said: “He was seen later to walk away with the case.”
Four days later Conway-Williams stole bank cards belonging to a manager at a Spar store in the city centre after he had put them in a store room.
They were used at TK Maxx, Tesco and on the Metrolink.
Conway-Williams then targeted Tesco on Church Street near the Northern Quarter, sneaking into a rear store room to steal a wallet, cash, a car key fob and an iPhone belonging to staff.
The court heard that when challenged, he claimed to be ‘looking for Easter eggs.’ He was arrested after a police officer recognised CCTV images.
Conway-Williams admitted three counts of theft. He is due to appear at Manchester Crown Court for sentence on September 3.