Homeless man broke into cars at Christmas
THIEF STOLE ITEMS FROM VEHICLES – INCLUDING WALLET
A PROLIFIC thief spread festive misery to residents on a Tyneside street after breaking into the cars on Christmas Day.
In the early hours of the morning and while his victims were sleeping, Jonathan Smart targeted vehicles on Meadow Vale, in Shiremoor.
A court heard that the 38-year-old unsuccessfully tried to get into a Tesla, a Fiat 500 and a VW High Up before managing to gain entry into an Audi, an Nissan Qashqai and a Lexus.
The career crook then made off with £80-worth of goods, including prescription sunglasses, a dog passport and a wallet.
Smart was arrested for those offences and for stealing £261-worth of items from Waterstones, in Newcastle City Centre, and was found in possession of cocaine.
Magistrates in North Tyneside heard that, earlier this week and despite being on bail, Smart struck again by trying to break into numerous cars in Shiremoor.
He was further arrested and found to be carrying amphetamine and a stolen jacket and radio.
Now Smart, formerly of Wallsend but currently of no fixed abode, has been jailed for 12 weeks after he pleaded guilty to four counts of interfering with a motor vehicle, three of theft from a motor vehicle, possession of a Class A drug, possession of a Class B drug, shop theft and two counts of receiving stolen goods. He was also in breach of a suspended sentence.
Prosecutor, Sue Baker, said Smart’s first offence happened on October 25 last year when he went into Waterstones, on Blackett Street, and made off with £261.83-worth of items.
The goods were, however, later recovered.
Mrs Baker continued: “The next set of offences happened in the early hours of December 25.
“The defendant has interfered with three cars by trying their door handles.
“He then stole from three further motor vehicles, which appeared to be parked up outside their owners’ homes without being locked.
“It’s not high value but there was the inconvenience.”
The court heard that a resident who saw what Smart was doing phoned the police and officers found the thief nearby.
All the stolen goods were recovered and he was also found in possession of the cocaine.
Smart initially appeared in court in December and was bailed to a later date.
However, he proved he was unable to stay out of trouble when, in the early hours of January 17 this year, he was witnessed trying the car doors of numerous vehicles in Shiremoor.
Police attended and arrested Smart and found him to be carrying a stolen radio and jacket and amphetamine.
Magistrates heard that the thief already owed more than £4,000 to the court and was on a suspended sentence at the time.
Judith Curry, defending, said Smart had been homeless since August.
She added: “He has been sofa surfing and that’s put him in a place where he’s relying upon people he’s known in the past.
“Whenever he does stay with these people, they are expecting something for that and he’s found himself in a cycle that he can’t get out of.”
Smart was also ordered to pay a £120 victim surcharge.