Chocolate thief banned from Sainsbury's, Tesco and B&Q

Shane Standen, of Tanhouse Lane, Malvern, was given 14 weeks in jail but Worcester magistrates said they could suspend the sentence after a deliberation that took more than 30 minutes.

Magistrates heard on Monday, (June 6) that the 35-year-old had admitted 12 offences of theft, and two attempted thefts, at an earlier hearing.

Prosecutor Mark Hambling went through all the offences that took place over a nine month period last year which included the theft of:

• Eleven chocolate bars, valued at £18.15, from One Stop on April 4
• Confectionary, valued at £25, from One Stop on April 22
• Three jars of Nutella, valued at £7, from One Stop on May 8

SHOP: One Stop, Pickersleigh Road, Malvern. Picture: Google

• Eight boxes of Celebrations and five boxes of Heroes, to the value of £22.75 from Sainsbury’s on July 7
• Various items valued at £20 taken from One Stop on August 5
• Ten Cadbury Caramilk bars, valued at £20, from Tesco Express on September 1
• Chocolate, valued at £50, from Tesco Express on September 3
• Eight pouches of Milky Way Stars, valued at £8, from Tesco Express on September 25
• A chainsaw valued at £152, from B&Q, on November 5

THEFT: Standen stole a chainsaw from B&Q. Picture: Google

• Ghost perfume, valued at £48, from Fragrance Shop on November 9
• Chocolate, cheese and butter, valued at £50, stolen from Tesco on December 14
• Cheese and chocolate valued at £88.20 from Co-Op on December 22

Mr Hambling said the attempted thefts took place on September 5 when Standen tried to take three Cadbury selection boxes, valued at £52, from One Stop on September 5, and on that same date when he attempted to steal 20 bars of snickers, valued at £16.80, from Tesco Express.

The prosecutor said Standen became known to the stores as a thief, and his previous convictions included one for handling stolen goods adding: “There is a sporadic pattern of dishonesty matters and other such offences.”

Shane Standen stole to fund heroin addiction

Mark Turnbull, defending, said: “He accepted he committed a number of shop thefts over a period of time. Most are confectionary and cheese.

“His explanation - he has been struggling with a heroin addiction for a number of years, in excess of 10.”

He said that Standen suffered relapses and had been in one at the height of the offending last year, stealing to fund his habit.

COURT: Shane Standen appeared at Worcester Magistrates Court (Image: Newsquest)

Elizabeth Armstrong, from the probation service, told the court she was recommending a community order where he could get help for his addition.

After deliberation, chairman of the magistrates bench, Kevin Lloyd-Wright, told Standen that the 14 offences, taken together, had crossed the custody threshold.

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He said they were jailing him for 14 weeks, but this would be suspended for a year providing he completed 20 rehabilitation activity days and paid compensation of £577.90 to the shops.

He also gave Standen a two year criminal behaviour order prohibiting from entering Sainsbury’s in Buttercup Road, B&Q in Spring Lane, Tesco Express in Madresfield Road and One Stop in Pickersleigh Road.