Caught by police: the thief who stole a parking meter to pay off debts
DESPERATE drug addict William Duff was caught stealing a council parking meter in an attempt to pay off his debts.
The 32-year-old was seen pushing the ticket machine in a supermarket trolley along the side of a road.
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TAKEN: A parking machine similar to the one stolen by Duff.
But police were called after a suspicious passer-by confronted him.
North Staffordshire magistrates heard the witness stopped and spoke to Duff.
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"He told him the police had been contacted and were on their way," said prosecutor Steve Knowles.
"He gave a full description of Duff."
Stoke-on-Trent City Council confirmed the ticket machine belonged to them and that it cost £1,200 to repair and reinstall.
When questioned by police, Duff said he owed money and the machine had been uneven and bent when he came across it on The Strand, Longton, on the evening of April 22. He said he pushed the meter over before chopping and hacking his way through it.
He then admitted using a shopping trolley to push the parking meter away in order to break it open and extract the cash.
It wasn't until several weeks later when a police officer recognised and arrested him.
Duff tested positive for heroin and failed to attend a follow-up assessment on May 14. And on May 28 he failed to provide a sample for a class A drugs test.
Duff, of Lightwood Road, Longton, pleaded guilty to theft, failing to answer bail, failing to attend a follow-up assessment, and refusing to provide a sample for a class A drugs test.
He was also in breach of a community order made on April 11 for possession of diazepam, failing to provide a sample for a drugs test and assault.
Gary Corbett, mitigating, said Duff committed the offences after relapsing into heroin use.
"He does still drink but he feels the further use of drugs is the main reason for these offences," said Mr Corbett.
He said Duff wanted to give up drugs, and added: "He needs to make significant changes."
Magistrates re-sentenced Duff to a new 12-month community order with supervision and a drug rehabilitation requirement.
They made no order for compensation to the city council but ordered Duff to pay £170 costs.
A spokesman for the council declined to comment.
Comments
by taff101
Tuesday, June 19 2012, 9:29PM
“That's the problem with druggies! He should still have to pay back compwensation for the damage/repairs :- otherwise you and I are paying for his actions.
Also, whose shopping trolley did he use? Most supermarkets will also charge for theft.
This druggie needs to be charged as much as possible.
OK, he's on benefits (obviously) but for sake, don't use that as an excuse not to fine him heaverly... give him the maximum fine and make him pay it back over a very long time.
Make the scum pay back from his hand-outs for the next 10 years or more.
Otherwise, take him to schools and give him an overdose in front of the school children so they know what drugs can do for you!”
by BritishHope
Tuesday, June 19 2012, 3:09PM
“druggie srcubbers stealing the s**t things of the city, Stay classy Stoke.”
by DarKwTEr
Sunday, June 17 2012, 9:39PM
“youve got to admire his forward thinking”
by E_D_Wivens
Saturday, June 16 2012, 10:58PM
“About £1.90 per hour I believe, focusboy.
Hmmm, does this mean that there's a black market in stolen parking meters? That some people act as parking meter fences? Is this the beginning of a parking meter based crime-wave?”
by focusboy
Saturday, June 16 2012, 3:17PM
“What is the going rate for second hand parking ticket machines anyway?”
by bigmouth666
Saturday, June 16 2012, 1:07PM
“And your to cheep to pay for a parking ticket that people do not only in this city but all over the country everyday. It's a standard sirvice, you pay to park. I think the cost of a new ticket machine should be paid for out of this idiots benefits, whatever he gets.”
by Holzyboo
Saturday, June 16 2012, 12:23PM
“Get over it ! Do you work for the council by any chance?
Always got something to say on everysubjectcan't u see they're on a money making scheme!
All time time.
Get over it there too cheap to replace the ticket machine
I kindly asked the staff inside the b and m store and they said that nobody had bought a ticket due To a theif!”
by bigmouth666
Saturday, June 16 2012, 12:19PM
“Come off it, it's the same car park and owned be the city council. You only want to see it as separate as you wanted you ticket wavered as you did not want to walk 50 yards. I know the area all to well for you to pull that one.”
by Holzyboo
Saturday, June 16 2012, 10:58AM
“Actually no the one pictured is around the corner on what looks like a seperate carpark actually!
If you knew te area you'd know where I meant!
So thanks”
by bigmouth666
Saturday, June 16 2012, 12:57AM
“I mean the one pictured must be all of about 50 meates away.”