Connor Weston warned to expect jail if he commits a crime in 2023

Connor Weston has been told if he commits any offence in the next year he can expect to go to prison. 

The 24-year-old, of Canterbury Road, Worcester, previously admitted theft, possession of a controlled drug of class B - cannabis, possession of a knife blade (a lock knife) and theft from a shop, appearing at Worcester Magistrates Court to be sentenced. 

COURT: Connor Weston has returned to Worcester Magistrates Court (Image: West Mercia Police)

Eleanor Peart, prosecuting, said Weston committed the theft in Sainsbury's on November 19 last year stealing a bottle of vodka worth £17. 

Miss Peart said a victim, a student, lost her handbag in McDonald's in Worcester which contained her coursework and passport on December 14. 

Police spotted Weston leaving Tescos with a handbag matching the description of the stolen one. 

"The defendant stated it was his brothers' bag," the prosecutor said.

"A lock knife was also hidden behind bins [in Cromwell Street] the defendant had ran to."

A police search of Weston also found he had a wrap of cannabis. 

The prosecutor said an aggravating factor was Weston's extensive record of previous convictions including for dishonesty matters. 

As we have previously reported, in 2022 alone Weston was in court for offences of making off without payment, burglary and assault by beating an emergency worker. 

COURT: Connor Weston appeared in front of Worcester magistrates

Mark Turnbull, defending, explained Weston pleaded guilty to all the new matters in December but a district judge had deferred sentence to see his behaviour in the following weeks. 

"There have been no further offences and he had engaged with the probation service," Mr Turnbull told magistrates. 

The solicitor said Weston's issue was committing crimes because his drug misuse became "problematic".

Mr Turnbull added the knife offence was the most serious, explaining he had it from helping his father doing plasterboarding. 

"He accepted it was no excuse as it had been in his pocket for some time," Mr Turnbull said.

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Richard Weatherill, chairman of the magistrates bench, told Weston he was being handed four months jail but they had decided to suspend the sentence for a year. 

"If you are convicted of another offence in the next 12 months you can expect to serve to serve this prison sentence," the chairman said. 

READ MORE: Drug addict persistent offender given chance to turn his life around

READ MORE: 'Your punishment has got to have some meaning' magistrates tell Worcester thief Connor Weston

Weston was fined £120, and ordered to pay victim surcharge of £154 and compensation of £17. 

The total, £291, was added to the £2,783 Weston already owes the courts from past offending which is being deducted from his benefits.