Shoplifting addict 'was user at 13 years'

Addict shoplifter was not reformed after all

A HEROIN-addicted shoplifter has been using drugs since he was 13 years old, Newbury magistrates heard.

Carl Francis Sheldon, now aged 33, had convinced probation officers that he was reformed – but on Thursday, April 14, he was back in the dock at West Berkshire Magistrates’ Court.

Mr Sheldon, of Bronte Rise, Newbury, admitted a fresh round of thefts plus a drugs charge - specifically, stealing alcohol worth £137.50 from Waitrose in Thatcham; stealing alcohol worth £99 from the same store, stealing meat worth £26 from Sainsbury’s in Newbury and possessing heroin in Newbury.

All the offences were committed between November 24 last year and February 8 this year.

Mr Sheldon has numerous previous convictions and had been subject to a probation order.

Stephen Collins, defending, said his client had been making good progress with the order imposed for his previous offending.

Indeed, the court heard, so impressed was the service with Mr Sheldon’s apparent achievements that they had been due to apply to the court to revoke the order early.

A probation officer told magistrates: “It was a surprise, then, when these offences came out of the woodwork. He has now been honest with his officer.

“He was an entrenched drug user at the age of 13 and had been doing really well in turning his life around.”

Presiding magistrate Elizabeth Harrison said the bench was deferring sentence until July 14 to give Mr Sheldon another chance to turn over a new leaf.

She toild him: “You must have regular contact with the probation service and the sentencing bench will review your performance. If there are no further offences you might receive a lighter sentence.”

Mr Sheldon was meanwhile released on bail.