Prolific Shrewsbury thief who breached suspended sentence spared jail
A prolific shoplifter who breached his suspended prison sentence by stealing a "tester bottle" of perfume while Christmas shopping was spared a jail term by a judge.
Ashley Masters attempted to steal a bottle of perfume from Debenhams in Telford last November but was stopped by a security guard when he left the store, Shrewsbury Crown Court heard.
The court heard that the 30-year-old, of Broughton Road, Shrewsbury, had been handed an eight-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, in 2015 for three offences of shoplifting.
Mr Rupert Jones, prosecuting, said that during the offence in November, he had attempted to conceal the perfume bottle, worth £71.50, in a bag he was carrying. He told the court that Masters was stopped outside the shop and gave a "no comment" interview.
The court was told he had 16 previous convictions, including shoplifting and drugs offences, and admitted theft with regard to the incident on November 5 last year.
Mr Stephen Scully, representing Masters, said it was "ridiculous" how the incident had happened. He said Masters had been Christmas shopping with his partner.
Mr Scully said that while in Debenhams he accidentally dropped a tester bottle of perfume, causing damage to the top of the bottle.
"Masters, in his state of panic, thinks I can't afford to pay for this," Mr Scully said.
"He then stupidly conceals the item."
He said Masters had intended to put it elsewhere in the store but then took it out of the shop and was questioned by a security guard.
Mr Scully said Masters, who has had part of one of his legs amputated, had dealt with drug addiction problems in the past.
Judge Robin Onions told Masters he had a "dreadful" record.
He said his first instinct had been to send Masters to jail, but added: "I've listened with care to what Mr Scully has said. I've read the pre-sentence report. I guess the important thing is that the probation service still think they can work with you."
He handed Masters a 12-month community order and three-month curfew, saying a number of things had persuaded him not to activate the suspended sentence, including that Masters would lose his specially adapted accommodation.
He was also ordered to complete 20 rehabilitation activity days, to address his thinking and reasoning skills, and pay £150 costs.
Judge Onions told him: "On balance I am going to give you a further chance.
"You are probably a long way past the last chance saloon. Behave yourself, next time it's a lot of custody."
