Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
608 days’ jail for serial shoplifter
A SERIAL shoplifter who targeted several businesses across Dundee has been jailed for 19 months.
Joseph Tracey, 29, of Clepington Road, stole from stores including TK Maxx, Boots, Primark, two Lidls, two Co-ops, Superdry, Aldi, Tesco Express and HMV over two years.
Tracey’s solicitor Anika Jethwa told the city’s sheriff court that drug issues had been getting on top of him and caused his offending.
She said he had made some improvements in his life, including gaining his own tenancy, however, she said that had put extra pressures on him and he slipped back into serious drug use and offending.
“He is always someone who accepts his guilt and responsibilities for any offences he has committed,” she added.
“He has detoxed in prison during his period on remand and hopefully he can come out and lead a normal law-abiding life.”
Sheriff Lorna Drummond told Tracey: “We’ve got here because we gave you the chance through a community payback order and a drug treatment order so you could get your head around your drug problem.
“There comes a point and today is the point where we can go no further.”
She jailed Tracey for a total of 608 days, which she said was the minimum period of custody she could impose.
Tracey had been placed on a community payback order after admitting that, on April 28 2016, at TK Maxx, Gallagher Retail Park, he stole a quantity of clothing; on July 28 2016 he stole razors from Boots, Reform Street, while on bail; and on September 13 2016 from Primark, Overgate, he stole a pair of trainers, while on bail.
Tracey also admitted that on November 10 and December 15 2016 he stole meat from two Lidl stores, South Ward Road and Dura Street; on March 6 this year, he stole four packets of meat from Co-op, Edward Street; and on April 20 and May 17, he stole a quantity of DVDs and Blurays from HMV, Murraygate, while on bail — breaching his order.
He further admitted stealing a quantity of meat from Lidl, South Ward Road, on April 23; on June 20 at Superdry, Overgate, stealing an item of clothing; on July 17 at Co-op, Albert Street, stealing a bottle of alcohol, all while on bail.
And he also admitted stealing food from Aldi and Tesco.