Jailed thief set to miss son’s birth
A dad-to-be sarcastically told magistrates “nice one, yeah” when jailed for carrying a knife while stealing from a Sunderland shop - a sentence that will see him miss the birth of his child.
Nathan Cole, 36, made the remark at South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court after being given 26 weeks behind bars.
Chief magistrate Russell Hewitson had just told Cole his offence was so serious nothing but imprisonment was possible.
Cole retorted: “I’m going to miss the birth of my son.”
The court heard he was arrested on suspicion of shoplifting from Wilkinsons’ Sunderland outlet, in Fawcett Street, on the afternoon of Tuesday, August 20.
Magistrates were told that when Cole was detained he handed over small lock knife which he told officers he used to “cut carpets”.
Mr Hewitson told Cole he had no choice but to lock him up.
He said: “This is your second offence and it carries an automatic six-month sentence. We cannot see any reason for it to be suspended.”
Prosecutor Keith Laidlaw told the court a plainclothed store detective saw a man picking up some items and putting them inside a bag-for-life.
He said a police officer attended, with Cole producing the red-handled blade on request, while goods totalling £100.50 were recovered.
He added: “Mr Cole tells him, ‘I use it to cut carpets’. When interviewed, he admitted he’d gone into the shop with the intention to steal.
In a Probation Service report, ordered by magistrates, Cole said he had suffered a cash shortfall due to benefits changes and intended to sell the Wilkinsons items.
It revealed he had had issues with heroin use and stated: “It’s time for Mr Cole to change.”
Tom Morgan, defending, said Cole had started taking drugs when he was 20 and had also endured one significant recent family issue, adding: “He’s not a man who routinely carries knives during shop thefts.”
At an earlier hearing, Cole, of Prince Charles Avenue, Bowburn, had pleaded guilty to possession of a knife, theft and failing to surrender to bail.
His sentence includes three weeks to run concurrently for failing to surrender. He must pay £85 court costs and a £122 victim surcharge.