Homeless offender spared jail

A man has been handed a suspended prison sentence after admitting a spate of thefts and using threatening behaviour in Ashford and Folkestone.

Leigh Alan Shilling, 39 and of no fixed address, appeared at Thanet Magistrates’ Court on Thursday March 16, where he pleaded guilty to possession of an offensive weapon, attempted shoplifting, using threatening or abusive words or behaviour, using racially aggravated threatening or abusive words or behaviour, failing to surrender to court bail and two counts of shoplifting.

He denied another count of shoplifting, but was convicted of it by magistrates.

On November 13, he stole cosmetic gift sets worth £275 from a shop in High Street, Ashford. On January 23, he had a snooker ball in a sock in High Street, Folkestone, and stole perfume gift sets worth £79 from a shop in Sandgate Road, Folkestone. He also used racially aggravated threatening or abusive words or behaviour likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress. On February 14, he stole DVDs and newspapers worth £73 from a shop in High Street, Ashford, and on February 21 he attempted to steal two boxes of washing powder worth £23.98 from a shop in Park Mall, Ashford. He also used threatening or abusive words or behaviour in New Rents, Ashford.

He failed to surrender to bail at Folkestone Magistrates’ Court without reasonable excuse on March 9.

Magistrates sentenced Shilling to 24 weeks in prison, suspended for 12 months. He must also pay £73 compensation.