Prolific thief refused to leave cell for sentence

JON MACPHERSON

APROLIFIC burglar and shoplifter refused to come out of his prison cell to face sentence because he was worried about being moved to a different prison, a court heard.

Kristopher John Murphy pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to five burglaries and seven shoplifting offences in Accrington town centre and was due to be sentenced this week.

However Burnley Crown Court was forced to adjourn the hearing and arrange for Murphy to appear via video link from prison after he refused to leave his cell.

The 30-year-old raided four beauty salons and a furniture store in Accrington causing more than £2,300 in damage and stealing £380 in cash.

Murphy targeted Pure Perfection and Boutique 23 on Warner Street on January 9 before raiding Hairs and Faces on Bank Street on January 11.

The next day he burgled RDA Trading furniture store on Oak Street and Fitzy’s Hair and Beauty Salon on Abbey Street.

Murphy, of no fixed abode, also pleaded guilty to seven separate shoplifting offences in Accrington over the same period.

He targeted the Spar shop four times, stealing £71 worth of coffee and washing up liquid.

The defendant also stole £352 worth of cosmetics from Boots on January 5, £20 worth of chilled meat from Tesco Express and £12 worth of steaks from Tesco on January 7.

John Woodward, defending, said Murphy has a ‘pretty bad record’ and is a ‘nuisance’ offender. He told the court: “Mr Murphy has taken it upon himself not to vacate his cell at Preston [prison].

“I spoke to the officers downstairs and they were informed that he believes that he has got a better chance of staying in Preston [prison] if he stays there. He has only recently come out of custody for very similar matters.

“He wants some help with his drug addiction and other things.”

Judge Beverley Lunt said Murphy was facing a ‘hefty sentence of imprisonment’.

She said: “It’s an unusual spree but it’s a spree.

“He’s a petty criminal. He’s done just about eve- rything. He’s what we would probably describe as a total nuisance.

“If he refuses to appear via the prison video link he will be sentenced and it will have to be impris- onment. He’s got to be told that he will be sentenced in his absence before I can sentence him in his absence.”

The case was adjourned to February 27.