Prolific Sandwell shoplifter jailed after breaching Asbo

On August 20 Simon Churchley walked into the Co-Operative Store on Bearwood Road, Bearwood, breaching the conditions of his Asbo imposed by the courts just weeks before, Sandwell Magistrates Court heard.

Prosecuting, Mr Peter Smedley, said the 40-year-old had a number of convictions for shoplifting in order to feed his addiction to heroin and that it was imposed to stop him entering stores near his home on Bearwood Road.

But Churchley was spotted by staff who reported him to police who then arrested him on August 27, at which point he admitted being in the store looking for his son. Mr Smedley added: "A quick look at his record will show you the high number of similar offences. It's a depressingly familiar story of shoplifting and possession of class A drugs."

Mr Harmail Gill, defending, said Churchley had gone into the store while intoxicated looking for his son after they had an argument but had left promptly only stopping to speak to staff.

He added: "We have been offered the opportunity by Parliament to give this man his liberty by not activating his earlier suspended sentence.

"Mr Churchley has been undergoing treatment for his addiction and is doing well."

Magistrates activated a 16-week suspended sentence for theft on June 22 and added an additional two weeks for breaching his Asbo.