Yahoo News 'You are not long for this earth if you keep taking Class A drugs at this level' - judge's stark warning to thief
A homeless career criminal with a huge list of 119 previous offences is now back in prison after committing yet more offences and recently living rough at an abandoned hotel in Bridlington.
Drug addict Thomas Wilson threw away a "golden opportunity" to avoid prison and to try to tackle his long-standing drug problem. He stole three joints of pork and five joints of beef from a shop before trying to pretend that the haul of meat was to feed his family and not to sell for drugs.
He was "not long for this earth" unless he made a "huge effort" to beat his drug addiction once and for all, Hull Crown Court heard.
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Wilson, 43, of Victoria Road, Bridlington, admitted two offences of theft and two offences of fraud between September 15 and October 22. He also admitted breaching a 15-month suspended prison sentence imposed on July 26 for supplying Class A drugs to undercover police.
Jane Rapin, prosecuting, said that Wilson stole three joints of pork and five joints of beef, valued at £49.50, from a Spar shop in Quay Road, Bridlington, before leaving without paying. He later claimed that he stole the meat to use as food to feed his family but the court rejected his far-fetched story because of the sheer number of meat items taken in one go.
Wilson used a stolen bank card that had been taken from a car. It was used at Prime Trinity News, Bridlington, three times but on the fourth occasion, it was blocked.
The haul included three separate purchases of scratch cards as well as a case of beer, cider, a large bottle of vodka and a packet of cigarettes. The total value of the stolen items was £56.95.
Wilson broke into a car in the driveway of a woman's home and she was alerted at 2am, when she was asleep in bed, from a door bell camera message. "The car interior lights were on and the defendant was opening her car doors," said Miss Rapin.
Wilson rummaged around inside the car and opened the boot. He later used a stolen bank card. He was arrested in Victoria Road, Bridlington, on October 22. He made no comment to all questions during police interview.
Wilson had convictions for 119 previous offences, including 68 theft-related and two for fraud. His most recent conviction was for two shoplifting offences in September.
Jazmine Lee, mitigating, said that most of Wilson's difficulties came from a drugs problem. "He has struggled for a long time," said Miss Lee.
"He had nowhere to live. He was living in an abandoned hotel in Bridlington. He was given a chance by the court with a suspended sentence. He was struggling to get his prescription for methadone. He is now taking methadone."
Miss Lee originally said that Wilson had claimed that he stole the joints of meat because he needed food but she later said: "It was to fund a significant drug habit."
Judge Mark Bury said of the meat theft offence: "Your counsel has tried to persuade me that it was to feed your family. I don't believe it was for a minute. You wanted it for drugs.
"You have not got over your drug addiction even though you had been given a golden opportunity in July to do something about it. You are not long for this earth if you keep taking Class A drugs at this level.
"At the moment, you are not capable of complying with court orders. The sad fact is that prison is doing you good, providing you with food and regular accommodation and keeping you off drugs. You can't go on like this. It's just not acceptable. You have got a very poor record."
Wilson, who was already in custody on remand, was jailed for 19 months. The sentence included 15 months after the suspended sentence was activated.
"You will be back in before long unless you realise that you have to make a huge effort to keep off drugs," said Judge Bury. "It's up to you."
