A SHOPLIFTER stole to pay off outstanding court fines – for shoplifting.
Despite being released on a conditional discharge for theft in November, 35-year-old reformed drug addict Mark George Gibbons, of Plas Dinas, Blacon committed his 88th and 89th thefts so he could make money from selling them to keep the bailiffs at bay. Gibbons owed £1,100 in fines and compensation for previous offences.
On April 27 he stole a Sony camera case worth £30 and a £245 studio lighting kit from Jessops in Chester.
At Chester Magistrates Court on Thursday, May 14, prosecutor Sue Gibson said: “Yesterday (Wednesday, May 13), at 3.10pm, he went into Toys R Us in Chester. He was asked to leave because he had previously been told he wasn’t allowed to enter.”
When staff and police searched him they found four X-Box games under his clothing worth £39.96.
James Bagby, defending, said: “Shhortly before the first incident he received correspondence from bailiffs to say they want immediate payment of £200. The defendant panicked and went out and took the items from Jessops.”
Gibbons sold the bag for £10 and took the money to court where it was agreed outstanding fines would be paid out of benefits. He hid the lighting equipment but when he returned to collect it, it had been stolen again.
“Yesterday bailiffs posted a letter requesting immediate payment of £272,” added Mr Bagby. It was then that Gibbons stole from Toys R Us.
Gibbons was praised in January by David Hanson MP at the Offender Management Unit in Chester after being selected as an example of good progress.
Chair of the bench William Culshaw suspended for 12 months a 16 week prison sentence for the two thefts. He was ordered to pay £275 compensation to Jessops and to pay costs of £60. All fines will be deducted from his benefits.
