A THIEF who stole bottles of alcohol from a Rugby supermarket while he was subject to a suspended prison sentence has been given another chance after spending three months inside on remand.
Ashley Parke appeared at Warwick Crown Court after he had pleaded guilty to two charges of theft and also admitted being in breach of his suspended sentence.
The 34-year-old, of Meadow Road, Rugby, was jailed for two weeks for the shoplifting offences, and the period of his suspended sentence was increased from 12 to 18 months.
Prosecutor Catherine Ravenscroft said Parke went into the Sainsbury’s store in March and left with a bottle of alcohol without paying for it – and did the same thing again two days later.
She explained the thefts were not dealt with in the magistrates court because Parke was subject to a suspended sentence imposed at the crown court in January for a burglary.
Miss Ravenscroft added Parke had been remanded in custody since his arrest for the thefts.
Simon Hunka, defending, said: “In January the mitigation was that he was essentially homeless, but he does have the support of his mother, and she doesn’t think prison is a place that can help him.
He added a rehabilitation requirement “had not really got going” before Parke found himself needing alcohol again.
Mr Hunka pointed out the time Parke had spent on remand was the equivalent of a six-month sentence.
Judge Sylvia de Bertodano told Parke: “You have just spent three months in prison, let’s try to see you don’t spend any more time there.”
