Telford drug addict, 34, stole perfume 'as a cry for help'

Karol Krzysztof Osowski was caught within minutes of taking the £96 Coco Chanel Perfume from Boots at Telford Shopping Centre.

A court heard he only did it to get more help battling his drug addiction and spiralling debts.

The 34-year-old violated a suspended sentence for a previous crime when he stole the perfume.

But after he pleaded for help, magistrates agreed not to punish him with a custodial sentence and instead extended the nine-month suspension for a further three months and ordered him to complete 80 hours of unpaid work, a six-month community order with one month's drugs rehabilitation requirement.

Though he was ordered to pay a £60 victim surcharge, magistrates said they would not give him a further fine so as not to add to his existing monetary problems.

Osowski, of Redlands Road in Hadley, went into Boots at 12.40pm on March 5 where he was immediately spotted by security who watched him on CCTV taking the perfume and leaving the shop. The item was recovered and he was questioned by police where he admitted his crime.

Appearing at Telford Magistrates Court, he pleaded guilty to the theft.

Mike Surzyn, for Osowski, said that he had found work and had been employed for about a year. He had also taken steps on his own to seek help for his drug addictions and was reducing the amount of methadone he was taking.

Mr Surzyn said: "He committed the offence as a cry for help as he has problems with debt.

"He took the perfume not intending to get away with it but as way to get back to court.

"He wants to carry on not offending but he needs help and lots of it."

Speaking for himself, Osowski said: "I know this is bad but I am asking please help me."

Chairman of the bench, Nigel Atkinson, said it was a "stupid" crime but the magistrates agreed to give him help via the probation service, rather than activating his custodial sentence to allow him to continue with his drug recovery.