MEAT, PROSECCO AND CHOCOLATES STOLEN IN SPREE
A“CAREER criminal” stole an array of meats and booze in his latest shoplifting spree. Kyle Raybould was on a “course of self-destruction” as he targeted stores in Newport and Cwmbran to fund his heroin addiction.
The homeless 30-year-old was already under a suspended prison sentence when he committed 12 thefts between February 20 and April 24.
He was caught on CCTV taking 17 bottles of Prosecco, two bottles of spirits, two boxes of washing powder, two boxes of chocolates, and various meats during visits to Malpas service station, Tesco Express in Newport, and Aldi in Newport and Cwmbran. His haul was worth £498.60.
Raybould, who appeared at Cardiff Crown Court via a video link from prison, admitted 12 counts of theft.
He has 68 previous offences on his record, including shoplifting and theft from a person, starting when he was just 11.
In 2021, he was handed a suspended 18-month prison sentence for possession with intent to supply a Class A drug and offering to supply a Class A drug.
The court heard that later that year, having found himself in HMP Cardiff for another offence, he received a conditional discharge for criminal damage to his prison cell. He had used a vape pen to set the bottom of his bed alight “because it was cold”.
His latest offences breached the suspended sentence order and conditional discharge.
Ben Waters, mitigating, said: “He was misusing drugs on a course of selfdestruction knowing himself, given the sheer number of offences he was committing, that it was inevitable he would be caught sooner or later. He is now abstaining from the use of drugs, he is on a methadone prescription and looking much better than when he appeared in court last month.
“It is a sad situation and he is focused now on a better lifestyle. He is steering clear of any sort of substance within the prison establishment.”
Recorder Neil Owen-Casey told Raybould: “You are now best labelled as a career criminal. No matter how many times you are sentenced, it does not seem to halt your behaviour, although I am aware you are addicted to substances and that is probably something that has resulted in much of your offending behaviour over the course of many years, starting in 2003.”
A 16-month portion of his suspended sentence was activated at an earlier hearing. Recorder Owen-Casey imposed a further six-week jail term for the shoplifting and conditional discharge breach.