Jailed: Shropshire heroin addict stole gardening equipment

Paul McGarry broke into the garage of a home on Bentleys Road in Market Drayton where he stole a petrol powered garden multi-tool to the value of £150, which had only been delivered days earlier.

Shrewsbury Crown Court heard yesterday that the 36-year-old had numerous previous offences of a similar nature and had spent much of his adult life in prison.

Already serving at HMP Hewell, he was jailed for a further two and a half years.

But his defending solicitor said he had accidentally been released for seven days and before he had turned himself in, had seen that there was more to life and had vowed to kick his long-running drugs habit and move forward with his life.

The multi-tool had been delivered to the house in Market Drayton on August 18 this year and at 9.30pm that evening, the occupiers of the house had checked that the property was secure.

At 9.15am the following day, the family found that perspex panes had been removed from the garage door and the tool had been removed.

Prosecuting, Phillip Beardwell, said on November 1 he appeared in court where he admitted the charge.

Andrew Holland, for McGarry, said he accepted his fate.

He said that the defendant had been addicted to heroin since he was 17 but has now resolved he needs to change.

McGarry will also pay a victim surcharge.