SHOPLIFTING ‘ACT OF DESPERATION’ FROM EX-ADDICT
40-year-old is in rehabilitation facility
SHOPLIFTER Roger Baskeyfield stole children’s clothing worth £445 from Next.
The 40-year-old targeted two different branches in the city within six days of each other.
Magistrates at North Staffordshire Justice Centre heard the offences were caught on the stores’ CCTV.
Prosecutor Daniel Wayne said: “The offences were captured on CCTV and the items were not recovered. Mr Baskeyfield was seen to enter the stores, put items in his bag and leave. He was identified from the CCTV footage.”
Baskeyfield, formerly of Park Place, Fenton, pleaded guilty to two charges of shoplifting. The offences took place on October 2 and October 8 last year, at Festival Park and Longton, right.
Iain Haley, mitigating, said the defendant had a long-term heroin addiction. He is currently in a residential rehabilitation facility in the Staffordshire Moorlands.
Mr Haley said: “At the time he had come out of hospital having had ulcerated legs and blood clots. He was having mental health difficulties and had a problem accessing his methadone prescription, so his addiction was untreated.
“These offences were acts of desperation on his part. Since then his life has taken a turn for the better.
“He is dealing with his issues with a great deal of support. He is grasping the opportunity with both hands and is doing well.”
Magistrates said their sentence would allow Baskeyfield to continue his recovery.
Chairman of the bench Colin Porteous said: “You have a significant record which we cannot ignore, but the last thing we would want to do is interfere with your rehabilitation.”
The magistrates handed Baskeyfield a compensation order which means he has to pay back the £445 value of the stolen goods. He must also pay £150 court costs.