A court heard he stole items from a number of shops including Tesco Express, Rispins, Aldi and Home Bargains
A serial shoplifter committed a whole host of theft offences over a period of several months in a desperate bid to raise some much-needed cash for his serious Class A drug addiction. Declan Randerson was “not able to get a real grip on that” despite his “best efforts” and he also wanted to use the illegally-gained money to buy food for himself and his drug-addicted girlfriend, Hull Crown Court heard.
Randerson, 29, of Dayton Road, west Hull, admitted seven offences of theft and two of making off without paying for petrol. He was in breach of a two-year suspended prison sentence imposed for drug supply and assault offences.
The court heard that Randerson’s theft spree included stealing items, valued at £57.90, from Tesco Express in The Parkway, Cottingham, on March 12 and stealing items, valued at £87, from Rispins in Priory Road, Hull, on March 13. He also stole washing detergent, valued at £53.99, from Aldi in Cottingham on April 12 and stole items, valued at £41.46, from Home Bargains in Bude Road, Bransholme, on April 13.
During other thefts, Randerson stole washing products, valued at £19, from Heron Foods in Endike Lane, Hull, on May 30 and stole washing and confectionery products, valued at £120, from the Cooperative in Greenwood Avenue, north Hull, on June 1. He stole items, valued at £115, from the same Cooperative store on July 4.
Randerson drove off without paying for petrol, valued at £48.14, at Triangle Filling Station in Spring Bank West, Hull, on April 4 and made off without paying for petrol, valued at £39.86, at the same garage on April 12. After the suspended sentence was made for separate offences, he attended only 19 of 44 appointments.
They were later halted by the probation service for non-compliance.
Randerson went to Clough Road police station but, during police interview, he made no comment to all questions. He had convictions for five previous offences.
Stephen Robinson, mitigating, said that there were “multiple new offences” after the suspended sentence was imposed but they were not for more serious offences than the original drugs one. “That involved him being part of the supply of drugs of Class A,” said Mr Robinson.
“Happily, he hasn’t returned to that. There was some compliance with suspended sentence up until April. The defendant had a significant drug habit.
“That was the root of the drugs conviction and his behaviour subsequently. Despite his best efforts, he was not able to get a real grip on that. He was stealing and making off without payment to fund that addiction and avoid spending money.”
Randerson stole to obtain money for food for himself and his girlfriend. Both had a very serious addiction to Class A drugs at the time. “They have managed to put their addiction behind them,” said Mr Robinson.
“There have been no further offences. There is at last a strong prospect of rehabilitation. He does submit that he has finally put his drug issue behind him.”
Sentence was deferred for six months until April 2 for Randerson to prove that he can keep out of trouble.