Criminal gets last chance to avoid jail term
JON MACPHERSON
APROLIFIC criminal who was caught shoplifting food on Christmas Eve has been given a final chance to avoid prison.
Neil Fraser, of Queen Street, Clayton-le-Moors, stole £157.02 worth of items from Marks and Spencer and was then chased around Burnley town centre by police officers before being arrested, a court heard.
The 37-year-old, who has 26 convictions for 58 offences, committed the offence just three weeks after receiving an eightmonth suspended prison sentence for breaching a non-molestation order (NMO).
Defence solicitor Mark Stuart told Burnley Crown Court that Fraser was ‘undoubtedly told that if he breached the suspended sentence order then he would be going to prison’.
He told the court that the former machine operator had otherwise complied with a curfew requirement and attended probation service appointments as part of the suspended sentence and is ‘very keen to get himself drug-free’.
Mr Stuart said: “He found himself on Christmas Eve without any money. He went to a food bank at Burnley Football Club but unfortunately they had nothing to give.”
“If he went to prison he would come out in three or four months in a far worse position.”
Fraser pleaded guilty to shoplifting and Judge Philip Parry adjourned sentence to February 15.
He told Fraser that if he complied with a new 8pm to 7am curfew and attended all his upcoming probation and drug treatment appointments then he would avoid jail.
He said: “You really ought to be going to prison today. I’ve looked at your previous convictions and recent antecedent record.
“At the moment I really don’t think you care a jot about court orders.
“You have had breaches for this and breaches for that. You have [three breaches of NMOs] in 2018 alone, breaches of curfew and breaching a conditional discharge.
“All this tells me is you chose not to abide by court orders.
“That’s why Mr Stuart quite rightly opened his mitigation by saying you richly deserve to go to prison.
“You should and you may yet still go to prison but it won’t be today.
“If you do everything I have ordered you will walk out.
“If you don’t then bring a bag and some money because you will be going to prison.”