Serial Plymouth shoplifter appears in court for 182nd time
AN ALCOHOLIC who has committed more than 300 offences over half a century has been jailed yet again on his 182nd appearance in court.
Serial shoplifter Robert Knowles, 65, stole whisky a day after being released from his previous prison sentence, Plymouth Crown Court heard.
He was released on bail despite his record and stole more alcohol from another shop four days later.
Now a judge has sent Knowles back to prison for 12 months.
Business Cards From Only £10.95 Delivered www.myprint-247.co.uk
View detailsOur heavyweight cards have FREE UV silk coating, FREE next day delivery & VAT included. Choose from 1000's of pre-designed templates or upload your own artwork. Orders dispatched within 24hrs.
Terms: Visit our site for more products: Business Cards, Compliment Slips, Letterheads, Leaflets, Postcards, Posters & much more. All items are free next day delivery. www.myprint-247.co.uk
Contact: 01858 468192
Valid until: Friday, May 31 2013
Recorder Robin Belben said: "This is the 182nd time you have appeared before the courts, nearly all of them for shoplifting in recent years.
"You have been caught in a revolving door over the last two or three years. You commit an offence, you go to prison and you commit another as soon as you are released."
Knowles had earlier admitted theft of whisky miniatures worth £10 from Tesco on September 20.
He also pleaded guilty to theft of two bottles of whisky, chicken and clothes worth £80 from Marks and Spencer on September 24.
Knowles has chalked up something like 330 offences since 1959, when he was sent to an approved school around the age of 13.
David Gittins, for the Crown Prosecution Service, said Knowles was arrested in the New George Street branch of Tesco with £160 in his pocket.
He was released on bail but only four days later was spotted by security staff in Marks and Spencer. The court heard that this time he was arrested and kept behind bars.
Llewellyn Sellick, for Knowles, said he had been staying at a hostel in Stonehouse and had money from his prison discharge grant at the time of the first offence.
He added that before the second offence his money had been stolen by some people he had met on the Barbican.
Mr Sellick said: "He has become institutionalised by the way he has spent his life. He knows he is going back to prison again today. There is nothing probation can do."
He added that Knowles did not receive a pension, which his solicitors were trying to resolve, so he would at least have money on his release.
Comments
by flowcur
Sunday, October 28 2012, 7:26PM
“another proof that u ain't gonna set straight .....if the punishment is free bed & meal .”
by bongaloo
Sunday, October 28 2012, 12:53PM
“So we sit here behind our computers in our nice houses with our luxuries and lives critising the man for being a repeat offender and an alcoholic. As it is easy to do.
What should be asked by the Herald instead of just reporting this story and a verdict as easy journalism
Where did the system fail?
Where did this man fall between the gaps?
Who was involved?
Why did this man result to a life of crime?
What the main agencies and probation should have asked the man involved is
What happened to you to be like this this ?
Where did we fail to support you?
What lead you to just returning to crime?
and so on..
And why did we fail?
I'm not defending him for what he has done, but there are always reasons why someone does something.”
by robocop1982
Sunday, October 28 2012, 1:44AM
“and meanwhile innocent people are often accused in supermarkets and often the target of being wrongly accused of theft by corrupt shop staff.”
by Strongbowman
Saturday, October 27 2012, 9:36PM
“"One fact the courts ought to be aware of and that is that people in prison cannot shoplift. Lock him up."
Who wins there then? Huge cost to the taxpayer, this poor inadequate man being incarcerated when he clearly needs help and smug, rich supermarkets getting their pound of flesh. Thatcher really did win didn't she? The views of so many working class people have been so twisted. Shame. Crying shame.”
by josdave
Saturday, October 27 2012, 5:33PM
“One fact the courts ought to be aware of and that is that people in prison cannot shoplift. Lock him up.”
by rozel
Saturday, October 27 2012, 2:00PM
“Having known an old guy in Somerset with a similar problem who always tried to get "banged up" in prison for Christmas I am forced to conclude that Mr. Knowles most probably finds prison life more acceptable than life outside and certainly better than being incarcerated in a nursing home in his advancing years. He is an example of a failing system within Britain.”
by jonjon2121
Saturday, October 27 2012, 1:04PM
“they really should introduce a 182 times and you're out system.”
by winchestr73
Saturday, October 27 2012, 12:41PM
“200 strikes and your out”
by Plukie2
Saturday, October 27 2012, 12:36PM
“Of course he keeps stealing, he wants to go back to prison, three meals a day, heating, tv, games consoles.......he's a pensioner, he wouldn't be able to afford half of that if he was living a normal life.”
by nothalf
Saturday, October 27 2012, 11:49AM
“@jas he's a repeat ,repeat repeat offender”