Dad’s theft spree to pay drug debts
MAN WANTED JAIL TERM TO ‘GET CLEAN’ FOR DAUGHTER
A MAN has been jailed after stealing money from a post office, perfumes from Boots and smashing a car window to take some sunglasses – all for his drug habit.
Joseph Davies, 24, was spotted by customers putting his hand into the till at a post office when the counter clerk’s back was turned in October last year.
Months later, he was located near to where a car had been broken into.
The vehicle owner’s sunglasses and car speaker had been taken, Minshull Street Crown Court heard.
Then, in July this year, he was spotted lifting men’s and women’s fragrances from Boots in Salford, before he was arrested and interviewed.
In the interview he admitted stealing the cash, sunglasses and perfumes to pay off drug debts.
Davies, of Oldham, pleaded guilty to theft at an earlier hearing. He has now sentenced to 21 months in prison.
The court heard that Davies wanted to spend time inside ‘to get clean,’ adding he was determined to do so for his daughter.
Prosecutor Justin Hayhoe said the first offence took place on October 18, last year, when Davies went into the post office in Middleton.
“It was shortly before 5pm and there were other customers present,” Mr Hayhoe told the court.
“The counter clerk was dealing with another customer, he turned his back leaving the till open, and when he turned back he heard one customer shout: “he’s stealing!”
“The defendant took £1,500 in cash from the till then left.
The court heard that Davies broke into the car on April 4 this year in Oldham.
While on police bail he stole £356 worth of perfume from Boots on Regent Road in Salford last month.
Davies admitted the offences and said it was something he was doing as a debt to drugs and that he was stealing to fund a drug habit, the court was told.
He was said to have a number of previous convictions for similar matters, including an offence of burglary in June last year, for which he received 15 months imprisonment suspended for 12 months.
Davies, of Milnrow Road, was sentenced to 21 months imprisonment, after his suspended sentence of 15 months was activated in full, and he was sentenced to a further six months for these offences.