Heroin user jailed over supermarket meat theft

Ricky Hamilton had gone into the Co-op store in Great Wyrley on Sunday and was seen by staff taking the meat and trying to hide it under his jacket.

He left without paying and the store alarms were sounded.

Staff chased Hamilton down the road and saw him throw the meat to the ground before jumping into a car and getting away.

Cannock magistrates heard how staff managed to take down the registration plate number, which was traced to Hamilton's mother's address.

He was later arrested by police.

Mr John Peel, prosecuting, told the court some of the meat was able to be re-sold, however the shop was unable to sell £20.24 worth.

The 29-year-old of Providence Lane, Walsall, admitted the charge of theft and breaching a 12-month suspended sentence passed in January this year.

In mitigation, Mr Ian Henry said he had told Hamilton he was "foolish and idiotic" for his actions, as they would mean that the suspended sentence, issued for a similar offence, would be activated.

"This is a straightforward case of shoplifting. He knows though that it will probably mean a prison term," he said.

Mr Henry added that despite very little evidence or CCTV his client had admitted he was there and taken the products, but believed it could all be sold again by the shop as he had "dumped" it.

He said Hamilton had been too late to pick up his methadone prescription at the chemist and so had to go two days without it. He stole the meat out of desperation to fund his drug habit, the court heard.

Chairman of the magistrates Mr John Britton said the offence had crossed the custody threshold and activated the six-week prison sentence.

He added a further four weeks for the most recent crime, to run consecutively, meaning Hamilton will serve a total of 10 weeks in jail.