Thief attacked girlfriend in lift
A PLANT thief attacked his girlfriend in a lift before throwing a stone through her mother’s window.
Sonny Tote had been on a threemonth-long shoplifting spree targeting the same Aldi store, and mainly stealing shrubs and flowers, before he assaulted his partner.
A court heard that the 26-year-old grabbed her arms and pulled her hair, which left her with bruising, then damaged her mobile phone. But Tote didn’t stop there and, five weeks later, he targeted the victim’s mum’s home by throwing a stone through her window.
Tote, who had only recently been released from prison and was on postsentence supervision at the time, has now avoided an immediate stint behind bars by “the skin of his teeth” after he pleaded guilty to six counts of shop theft, two of criminal damage and one of assault by beating.
Newcastle Magistrates’ Court was told that Tote, of Aln Crescent, in Fawdon, stole from Aldi, in Walker, six times between July and October 2021.
In total, he made off with £990 worth of plants and chocolate. Lillian Yanes Hellevik, prosecuting, said: “It was on the seventh occasion that the defendant entered the store and, before he had a chance to steal anything, he was recognised and detained by security.”
The court heard that, just two weeks later on November 12, he attacked his girlfriend. Ms Yanes Hellevik added: “They were in a lift and the defendant grabbed the victim on the arms and by the hair. He accepts causing the injury, which was a bruise. He accepts he then damaged the victim’s phone.”
The court was told that, on December 27, Tote turned up at his girlfriend’s mother’s home and smashed a front window by throwing a stone at it.
In a statement, Tote’s partner said: “Before I met him, I was happy with my children in my beautiful home. I’m now embarrassed after being in a controlling and abusive relationship and I feel I’m unable to get out of it.”
The court heard that Tote had numerous past convictions, including for breaching community orders.
Paul Kennedy, defending, said: “Mr Tote doesn’t want to go to prison and wants to engage with the Probation Service. I would ask you to give him an opportunity. If he fails, then he’s off to prison and he would have nobody but himself to blame.”
Tote was given 20 weeks in prison, suspended for 18 months, and ordered to pay £990 compensation to Aldi and £100 compensation to his partner. He was also banned from contacting his girlfriend or her mum for 18 months.