Asda perfume thief avoids being scent to jail - The Worcester Observer

Asda perfume thief avoids being scent to jail

Worcester Editorial 5th Mar, 2014 Updated: 19th Oct, 2016   0

A PROLIFIC offender who stole a bottle of perfume from a city centre supermarket has been spared jail despite breaking two suspended sentence orders.

Carl Francis, of Barbourne Crescent, had both sentences and his drug rehabilitation requirement (DRR) extended by three months and was ordered to pay £280 in fines, court costs, compensation and victim surcharges after pleading guilty – at the second attempt – to the theft from Asda in Lowesmoor.

The 41-year-old originally pleaded not guilty on December 6, but decided to change his plea.

The incident happened about 5pm on October 25 when Francis entered the supermarket and stole a bottle of Jean Paul Gaultier fragrance, worth £35.




Last Friday (February 28) Worcester Magistrates Court heard the defendant went into the store with a woman and made his way to the fragrance department, where he picked up the bottle and put it under his jumper.

Francis then went over to the lift and was seen taking it out of the packet, removing the security tag and putting the bottle back under his jumper.


The court also heard how he suffered for a long period with substance misuse but has been improving since taking part in the DRR.

The first of his suspended sentences was due to finish in March and the second in April. These have now been extended to June and July respectively.

District Judge Nigel Cadbury said: “It’s quite clear various agencies have put an incredible amount of time and effort into your case and it would be very unfortunate if all that was undone because you’re still offending.

“It does, however, seem you have been making a lot of effort and the DRR is clearly working.”

Francis was fined £75 for the offence, ordered to pay compensation of £35, court costs of £150 and a victim surcharge of £20.

Reader Travel

Check out all of the latest reader travel offers to get your hands on some free gifts.

Buy Photos

Buy photos online from the Worcester Observer newspaper.

Announcements

Weddings, Birthdays, Bereavements, Thank you notices, Marriages and more.

Public Notices

View and download all of the public notices in the Worcester Observer.