HE TARGETED CO-OP STORES
A FATHER stole nearly £500 worth of meat from Co-op stores to fund his drug habit.
Stephen Sharratt, of Ashover Road, Chaddesden, pleaded guilty to three charges of theft as he took £460 worth of items from the Co-ops in Nottingham Road, Chaddesden, and Smalley Drive, Oakwood, on Saturday, November 17.
Sharratt, 39, then returned to the Oakwood Co-op the following day and stole £30 worth of chocolate, before he was chased down the street by a customer at the store.
Judge Andrew Meachin, who presided over the case at Southern Derbyshire Magistrates’ Court, handed Sharratt a community order as he had asked for help for a drug habit and was receiving support from members of his family.
The court heard that Sharratt and another man stole £230 worth of meat from the first Co-op and then £230 of bacon from the second.
Lynn Bickley, prosecuting, said: “This is theft from Co-op stores, but two different Co-op stores.
“At 10.30am on November 17, Sharratt and another male entered the store in Nottingham Road and stole £230 worth of meat. Staff didn’t see the offence immediately at the time, but they were captured on CCTV.
“At 1pm, the two males entered the Co-op store in Smalley Drive, Oakwood and took meat, namely bacon, worth £230. They walked out with the boxes without making payment.
“The following day, Sharratt returned to the Co-op in Smalley Drive and took six tubs of chocolate.
“He was spotted by a member of the public and they chased after the defendant, returning 20 minutes later with the tubs. One of the tubs was damaged and could not be sold.
“When he was interviewed, he made a full admission and stated that he had asked for help regarding the drug addiction.
“The second male involved has already pleaded guilty and a sentence has been imposed.”
A statement from the probation service Lynn Bickley Stephen Sharratt, of Ashover Road, Chaddesden, pleaded guilty to three charges of theft was read out in court which detailed Sharratt’s drug history.
It read: “Sharratt began using drugs at the age of 11 with cannabis and started using heroin at the age of 16. He started using drugs due to peer pressure and if he had known then what he knows now, he would have just said no. “He stole the meat to fund his drug issues as it is easy to sell.
“He suffered a heart attack in 2001, but his heart has stabilised itself. “He is single, but he does have a son who was born in 2001. He is not in touch with him and doesn’t currently know where he is living. “He has lived in Ashover Road since 2003 and is now getting support from his family.” Judge Meachin handed Sharratt a community order for the thefts as he has taken steps to end his addiction.
He said: “They say self help is the best help. You pleaded guilty and I will give you credit for that.” Sharratt was a handed a 12-month community order, which included 15 days of rehabilitation action, rehabilitation rebuild and a 12-week curfew. He also had to pay £230 compensation, £85 court costs and £85 victim surcharge, giving a total of £400 to pay. 8 lucky readers will win one of the following: Fingerlings Hugs (Bella), Crate Creatures Surprise (Pudge), Fingerlings Untamed, Watermelon Smash, Poopsie Surprise Unicorn, Fisher Price Dance & Move Beatbo, LOL Pop-Up Store and Scoop & Learn Ice cream cart.
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He made a full admission and stated that he had asked for help regarding the drug addiction.