Westcliff charity shop thief jailed for three years (From Southend Standard)
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Westcliff charity shop thief jailed for three years
8:46pm Wednesday 30th May 2012 in Echo News
Serial offender – Jake Smith
A TEENAGE boy who burgled charity shops has been locked up for three years.
Jake Smith, 19, broke into Sue Ryder and British Heart Foundation stores, in Hamlet Court Road, Westcliff, in February this year.
He stole £500 worth of donations, including a guitar and flute, and caused £450 damage.
Smith also pleaded guilty to breaking into Hunters Solicitors, in the same road, last November, where he took £137 cash.
The defendent also raided a bungalow and garden shed in Sussex, in March 2011.
An emotional Smith sat with his head in his hands yesterday at Basildon Crown Court, when he was sentenced to three years behind bars.
His barrister Mike Warren thought prison could be a positive experience for the young man. He said: “He does not seek to make any excuses for what he has done.
“He knows he has an opportunity to use the education and training facilities available to him in prison to make something more of himself.
“He appears to lack self belief and has spent 35 separate placements, in either foster or care homes, with no real contact with his parents since the age of four.”
Smith, who has 17 previous convictions relating to 26 offences, will serve his sentence at a young offenders’ institution.
He had an accomplice for the charity shop raids.
Connor Byrne, 19, of York Road, Southend, was sentenced to 238 days in a young offenders’ institution, in March.
The pair were caught in the act, through CCTV footage from the British Heart Foundation shop.
Debbie Mann, manager at the Sue Ryder shop, was delighted to see him get his just desserts.
She said: “Normally you see these guys just getting a slap on the wrist for their actions. Giving him a prison sentence shows the court has taken this seriously.
“What he and his friend did was take money away from the charity, because we rely on donations. It is a bit of a kick in the teeth for the people who kindly donate their items to us.
“However, the crooks don’t seem to care. Hopefully it won’t happen again.”
Comments(13)
joeski97
says...
9:04pm Wed 30 May 12
Nebs
says...
9:25pm Wed 30 May 12
Southendman
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9:30pm Wed 30 May 12
This Rancid Town
says...
1:14am Thu 31 May 12
Yes because going in to meet more hardened crims is such a reforming experience, but oh WAIT!! I could have one of those plastic rosary bead necklaces like all those young, reformed and polite young men do these days....
How about community service (supervised of course) learning about and helping others with cancer and heart problems, maybe he will find compassion and seek to better himself? Unlikely though I admit...
Ireland life
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7:07am Thu 31 May 12
streetboy75
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8:15am Thu 31 May 12
Barry Bas
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10:25am Thu 31 May 12
Ireland life wrote:A cry for help? He has 17 previous convictions. Can't say for sure without knowing what those convictions were for but I think it is less a cry for help and more the latest rung in his criminal career.
Maybe it was a cry for help? Which has now been answered, thank God. Lets hope he will grab this opportunity with both hands - nop! I'm not just a 'do-gooder', I mean the world is going through strange times, and may well be in need of some one with the experiences he has had, in order to be strong for others who have not. Just a thought.
AnotherSister
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12:08pm Thu 31 May 12
Southendman wrote:I'm not standing up for him as there's no excuse for what he's done, but I don't think that's a very nice thing you've said about even his parents not wanting to know him at the age of four. Chances are enormous that he's like this because of the start in life his parents gave him. I do reiterate that I'm not excusing him though.
Even his parents didnt wana know him from age of four! Must of know something most of the becks hes come up before dont! Theres only one sentance for this type - gun, bullet, head.
The Cater Wood Creeper
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12:54pm Thu 31 May 12
LordSpiffSpaffingtonThe2nd
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5:19pm Thu 31 May 12
The Cater Wood Creeper
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5:34pm Thu 31 May 12
LordSpiffSpaffingtonthat's offensive to maggots to compare them to this particular specimen.....
The2nd wrote:
What a maggot. of all the places to break into he chose a charity shop and a solicitors
Bosniavet
says...
8:26pm Thu 31 May 12
WRONG! - every day served on remand counts for 2 days "time served", so we're looking at closer to a year, if that.
Yes, I do hope this lad is helped whilst inside, but I have to express my doubts........
Maybe his barrister would like to "donate" £500 of his (legal aid paid) fee to Sue Ryder.........
lucy10 says...
8:50pm Wed 30 May 12