Thefts came days after jail release
DRUG-USING OFFENDER’S RECORD NOW EXCEEDS 40 CONVICTIONS
A NOTORIOUS Tyneside thief was back to his old tricks with his latest stint of supermarket trolley-dash thefts.
Former conman James Bowes, Newcastle’s so-called ‘Fiddler on the Roof,’ was jailed earlier this year after stealing thousands of pounds’ worth of alcohol and other groceries from Sainsbury’s, Asda, Tesco and Morrisons.
But, not long after his release from prison, the 56-year-old returned to his thieving form, this time targeting Marks & Spencer in Kingston Park, a court heard.
As with past offences, the serial crook was seen to place goods in a trolley, this time worth more than £1,200, before covering them and leaving the store without paying.
He was later seen on CCTV, identified and arrested.
However, while on bail for that shop theft, the former Newcastle Breweries worker struck again, this time at a Tesco Express, in Chapel Park, where he tried to steal an unknown value of meat.
He was arrested attempting to leave the shop and has now pleaded guilty to both shop thefts at North Tyneside Magistrates’ Court.
Magistrates told Bowes, who has 41 past convictions for 89 offences, he was in a “last-chance saloon” as they gave him a eight-week prison sentence, suspended for 18 months.
The court heard Bowes, of Avison Court, Arthur’s Hill, Newcastle, first targeted Marks & Spencer on March 3.
Anna Barker, prosecuting, said; “CCTV footage shows the defendant filling a trolley with high-value items and concealing them. He then made off without payment.”
Bowes was identified from the CCTV and later arrested but, while on bail, he went on to commit the further offence at the Tesco Express on May 31.
Ms Barker said: “On that occasion, it was of lower value. He was observed by staff placing a large quantity of meat in a basket and attempting to walk out without paying.”
Peter Doherty, defending, said Bowes had suffered with a drug habit since he stopped working for Newcastle Breweries.
He said: “He had a fairly substantial pension payout but he blew it on crack cocaine and that has been his downfall. He’s asked for help but only seems to get put in prison.”
Bowes must also complete a drug rehabilitation requirement and pay £1,259.97 in compensation to Marks & Spencer.
Bowes’s previous convictions include a jail term for fraud in June 2013, committed just six months after his release from prison for similar offences involving exploiting pensioners through ropey roof repairs, which led to his Fiddler on the Roof nickname.
The judge who sentenced him to two years and three months after he admitted fraud branded his actions “disgraceful”, after hearing how the serial conman had targeted pensioners, by posing as a roofing expert and coldcalling at their homes.