Drug addict stole Douglas Macmillan Hospice charity cash from Stoke shop
DRUG addict John Clive has been branded 'despicable' after breaking into a pie shop and stealing money from two charity boxes being stored under the counter.
Magistrates heard yesterday how the 28-year-old had targeted Wrights, in Campbell Place, Stoke, to help feed his habit.
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TARGETED: Wrights in Stoke.
He emptied the charity boxes, which were being used to collect spare change for the Blurton-based Douglas Macmillan Hospice and the PDSA animal charity.
Clive also stole a CCTV hard drive worth £250 in the raid, which happened sometime between January 11 and 14.
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North Staffordshire Justice Centre was told that he had been on bail at the time for another burglary offence.
Just days earlier, he had broken into a Sue Ryder charity shop in Shrewsbury and had taken a £50 watch and loose change.
Clive, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to two counts of burglary and another charge of going equipped for theft.
At yesterday's hearing, he was sentenced to a total of 32 weeks in prison.
Clair Moss, prosecuting, said the defendant had smashed a rear door to gain entry to Wrights Pies.
The empty charity boxes were later found dumped on the floor.
It is not known how much change was inside the boxes when Clive stole it. The money had been donated by customers at the shop.
Mrs Moss said: "A scenes of crime officer recovered a screwdriver from the canopy of the premises. That was linked to the defendant."
Clive was arrested and made no comment during his police interview.
Jacqueline Coley-Fisher, defending, told the court the burglaries were carried out to fund his drug habit.
She said: "Regrettably, he has been under the influence of addiction since he was around 16 years of age. He has struggled over the years to try to address this."
Mrs Cole-Fisher said Clive 'accepted his fate' and wanted to go to prison so he could get some help to tackle the addiction problems.
The Wrights Pies shop targeted by Clive is run as part of a franchise.
Speaking after the hearing, franchise owner Rob Walley condemned Clive's actions.
He said: "Stealing money from charity boxes is despicable.
"When people do these opportunistic break-ins, they often steal very little, but it's the hassle they cause.
"We don't put charity boxes on display in the shop, but put them out of sight.
"That's because we've had people grabbing them and running out with them in the past."
7 Comments
by stokiemart
Thursday, March 07 2013, 3:43PM
“It doesn't take a genius to understand that questioning the complete failure of drug laws in this country can also be commensurate with the condemnation of the actions of this individual. If you think that the two are mutually exclusive you're really not understanding the issue at hand :-)”
by Backdoored
Thursday, March 07 2013, 12:41PM
“Anyone who 'wants' to go to prison ... has to be at a low ebb; whatever the reasons.
We all make mistakes when young; especially at around 15 to 17 years old. But making the mistake of going for what sounds like a hard drug at 16 is a big one.... ask anyone, man or woman, if they thought they'd made a big mistake as a young person ...16 or under, by 'taking up the 'soft drug' nicotine.... And a great many of them will say, cough-cough.... you bet I did!!
Then why do they carry on with the filthy habit? You've got it ....IT'S GOT THEM... AND IT WON'T LET GO.
The bloke chose the wrong 'mistake'.... one can be miserable, irritable, without a smoke on them.... but it's worse than miserable without the hard stuff..... I doubt if they made tobacco products illegal -and only available on black -same as the hard-drugs, that they'd break into a shop and steal from a charity box..... We'll never know for sure I suppose -the answer to that one.
At least we were spared 'any mitigation'. He put his hands up -helpless to his habit and the only words he had to say was -'Put me inside -I need help'. That's not 'feeble mitigation' -that's facing up the reality of his situation.
Some people are addicted to chocolate... They're the lucky ones.... unless the finish up at 40 stone in weight.”
by FFDP1
Thursday, March 07 2013, 10:13AM
“Looks like this one like flicking his dirt round about.”
by FFDP1
Thursday, March 07 2013, 9:49AM
“I hope he gets help, or moreover someone can help him . I defend by stressing that if Cannabis was legal, witch is the only drug I that is unlawful that I have ever called for to be legal, a gateway into harder drugs would be taken away.”
by spudder56
Thursday, March 07 2013, 9:01AM
“by Anon_mow_copThursday, March 07 2013, 8:46AM
"Can't wait for the "legalise drugs" lobby to defend this one !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
ANYBODY WHO DEFENDS THIS IS A COMPLETE MORON IMO
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by Anon_mow_cop
Thursday, March 07 2013, 8:46AM
“Can't wait for the "legalise drugs" lobby to defend this one !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
by spudder56
Thursday, March 07 2013, 7:59AM
“Jacqueline Coley-Fisher, defending, told the court the burglaries were carried out to fund his drug habit.
She said: "Regrettably, he has been under the influence of addiction since he was around 16 years of age. He has struggled over the years to try to address this."
More rubbish by solicitors he made the choice to go on drugs in the first place his actions are indefensible
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