Prison warning tothief
A persistent Perth shoplifter has been given a chance to stay out of prison after his lawyer said he no longer had significant issues with drugs.
A background report has been ordered on 30-year-old Shaun Coventry, of Greyfriars House, Princes Street, and he will be sentenced on November 1.
He admitted at Perth Sheriff Court that he stole £130 worth of sports tops from Campus Sports on March 27.
Depute fiscal Michael Sweeney said the property was not recovered.
Coventry’s lawyer told the court he had been released from prison on Friday, September 29, adding: “His position is there is no longer a significant drugs issue.”
Sheriff Derek Reekie pointed out that “escalating periods of imprisonment” had been imposed on the accused.
He told Coventry: “Your record speaks for itself.
“It’s littered with the same offending but prison sentences don’t seem to have worked.”
The sheriff called for a community justice social work report and a curfew assessment.
But he warned him: “I give you absolutely no assurance or positive indication a custodial sentence won’t follow.
“Custody, however, has been making no difference to your offending.” Donald and Julie Riddell with Paul Parmenter and Stuart Simpson