A SERIAL offender has been jailed after magistrates said previous warnings had “not worked” in preventing him commit more offences.
Christopher Holder, of no fixed abode but previously of Worcester, had previously admitted theft of a bike and stealing from a Tesco supermarket - appearing at Worcester Magistrates Court on Monday, (September 26), for his sentencing.
Sarah Hurd, prosecuting, explained to magistrates Holder had been set to face a trial on other offences, including a public order matter and an attempt to steal a bike - but those had been discontinued.
Ms Hurd said the £345 bike was stolen on July 14 this year, police identifying Holder as the thief using CCTV.
She told magistrates the victim was angry after discovering his bike had been stolen in Worcester, because he relied upon it to get to work.
The prosecutor said Holder committed the theft after going into the Tesco in Malvern on July 20 this year, filling a basket with goods which came to around £20.
"He loitered (around the entrance) before running out with the basket," Ms Hurd said.
The prosecutor highlighted Holder's criminal record, which included more than 50 convictions for more than 100 offences, saying it included a number of thefts.
She added that the offences had been committed after Holder had been given a 22-week jail sentence, suspended for a year, in May this year for aggravated vehicle taking, theft of a vehicle and criminal damage.
"You should send him to custody," Ms Hurd added.
Gary Harper, defending Holder, argued against that saying it would be unjust.
"If you look at the record (of offending) you will see Mr Holder's offending has been slowing down since 2019," the solicitor said.
Mr Harper added his client had been homeless as the time of the offences, stealing from Tesco for the food and the bike to sell on for the money so he could buy essentials.
After leaving the courtroom for 20 minutes of deliberations magistrates returned and chairman of the bench, Richard Poppleton, said Holder was going to jail.
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"It is the clear it (the suspended sentence) hasn't worked in preventing offences, so it would be just," the chairman said.
Mr Poppleton explained Holder would be given a week for each offence, running concurrently with the 22 weeks sentence.
Holder was also ordered to pay victim surcharge of £154. That amount was added to the more than £1,000 Holder already owes the courts from previous offences.
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