Thief hurled abuse in city restaurant

Camplin flicked a piece of steak at assistant manager RUSE TO MAKE OFF WITHOUT PAYING BILL

A PROLIFIC thief dined in style before hurling abuse at the restaurant’s assistant manager and flicking a piece of steak at him, a court heard.

Samuel Camplin, with a male accomplice, ordered expensive steak dishes and cocktails at the city centre restaurant.

But he then started to cause a scene and became abusive to staff.

It was a ruse to make off without paying the £117 bill, Leicester Crown Court was told.

Camplin (27) was sentenced for an array of offences, including his “speciality” crime of stealing bicycles, mainly in the Hinckley area.

The defendant, who has 92 offences on his criminal record, was jailed for a total of 15 months.

Recorder Sam Mainds said: “He’s had numerous court appearances for a cocktail of offences.

“He’s shown a complete disregard to any adherence of honesty or comply- ing with any of the restrictions or regulations that involve using the roads.

“Time and again he’s been given opportunities, with court orders and drug rehabilitation.

“His record includes battery, common assault and shoplifting. Thieving bicycles seems to be his speciality.”

Passing sentence, the recorder told Camplin: “I have to deal with you for numerous thefts of expensive push bikes carried out in a semi-professional way, using bolt croppers.

“The offences show you’re a person with total disregard for other people’s property and were out to make money for yourself by stealing bicycles.

“The public order offence in the restaurant was a nasty offence in front of other people.

“You hurled steak at the manager and made abusive comments.” Phillip Plant, prosecuting, said the steak throwing incident happened at Bill’s restaurant, in Shires Lane, Highcross, Leicester, on August 4, for which Camplin was charged with an offence of harassment, causing alarm or dis- tress.

Mr Plant said: “The defendant and another male ordered high value items of steaks and cocktails and towards the end of the evening the assistant manager asked if everything was all right.

“Camplin became offensive and made derogatory remarks.

Mr Plant said: “He waved a knife with steak on it close to the assistant manager. He then flicked steak at him.”

Camplin, of Alexander Gardens, Hinckley, pleaded guilty to the following offences:

Stealing a £500 bicycle in Barwell Lane, Hinckley, on February 25.

Shoplifting £100 of items from a Wilko’s store in Hinckley.

Making off without paying for a £14.50 taxi fare, on June 2.

Stealing two bicycles, one worth £115 and the other worth £500, from outside Hinckley leisure centre, on April 11 and July 23.

Driving a Ford Fiesta in Stoney Stanton when disqualified, having no insurance and no MOT certificate, in April.

Breaching a previously imposed community order, for four bicycle thefts and a shoplifting, for which he was re-sentenced.

Sarah Cornish, mitigating, said Camplin had a difficult start to life after being brought up in care from the age of 11.

She said: “There was a family background of drug abuse and no guidance. He’s lived a very chaotic lifestyle.

“His partner recently gave birth to their child.

“He’s now clean of drugs, has provided negative tests and his ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) is being appropriately medicated.”