Ms Batty said although Blythe was overcoming his problems “perhaps old habits die hard” and he had yielded to temptation when presented with an opportunity.
That ‘opportunity’ being when a courier knocked on the door asking if he’d take a parcel in for his neighbour.
Helen Wheatley, prosecuting, said the woman had to give evidence against Blythe because the 36-year-old, who has 31 previous convictions for dishonesty, denied theft, but he was convicted at a trial before magistrates, who sent him to York Crown Court because he was on a suspended prison sentence for a garage burglary at the time of the theft.
/facepalm
Blythe’s barrister, Kate Batty, said his offences were caused by his drug and alcohol habits, but he was kicking them with the help of the Peasholme Centre and his offending had slowed down.
Oh, slowed down? But not stopped?
Judge Shaun Spencer QC gave him a three-month curfew, and decided against making him serve the nine-month prison sentence imposed for the burglary, but added a requirement that he live at the Peasholme Centre for the homeless or as arranged by its staff.
The suspended sentence remains in force until next April.
What, really, is the point of suspending a sentence these days?
He's a little bit 'whoooa' and a little bit 'whey-heeey' - he'll nick anything him...anything!
ReplyDelete"... his offending had slowed down."
ReplyDeleteYeah, I admit I only do one Brinks Mat sized job once every 10 or 15 years now... I find it's best not to be too greedy.
I am a great lover of all vices, but miraculously, they don't turn me into a thief.
ReplyDeleteDid multiple sclerosis Batty (sorry, when I see 'MS' that's what I think) consider that it night just possibly have something to do with her client, who no doubt paid for her services out of his own pocket, who might have enabled the drug and alcohol-fuelled crime that occurred?
I wonder what possible motivation a lawyer might have by trying to set a felon free, no doubt to call on legal aid again when he inevitably reoffends.
Alas, I cannot.
"Yeah, I admit I only do one Brinks Mat sized job once every 10 or 15 years now... "
ReplyDelete:D
"I wonder what possible motivation a lawyer might have by trying to set a felon free, no doubt to call on legal aid again when he inevitably reoffends."
They should describe their profession as 'farmer'. It'd be more accurate.