A HOMELESS shoplifter from the Isle of Wight with an extensive record of thefts and imprisonment behind him, thanked magistrates and expressed his delight at being put behind bars yet again.

Rather than sleep rough this winter, Warren Russell, of no fixed address, made the parting comment at the Isle of Wight Magistrates' Court on Friday: "Cheers..... happy days!"

He was one of two prolific shoplifters from the Isle of Wight to be put behind bars, thanks to the efforts of Island police committed to tackling retail crime and supporting local businesses.

Russell, 40, admitted four charges of shoplifting and two of attempted theft, in a spree between Thursday, January 4, and Wednesday, January 10.

He stole goods, not recovered, totalling £395.17, from the Co-op in Anglesea Street, and Tesco , Ryde; Central Convenience Stores, Lake; and Co-op, Landguard Road, Shanklin.

Items stolen included tea, coffee, perfume, aftershave, lamb chops, toothpaste, soap, washing powder and rum, said Liz Miller, prosecuting, at the Isle of Wight Magistrates' Court on Friday, January 12.

The offences were committed while he was out of jail on licence, released last month, and he was returned back behind bars immediately — to his delight.

Russell had been jailed for six weeks for two shoplifting offences and one of failing to comply with a probation order on December 2.

Running concurrently to his prison term, magistrates handed him ten weeks' jail. 

No stranger to imprisonment, last year Russell was jailed for four weeks for shoplifting on October 31, and for six weeks in September.

For Russell, Michael McGoldrick said his client continued to be released from prison as a homeless person, so, rather than spend the winter living rough, he would steal with the intention of getting caught, or hand himself in to the police.

Russell has amassed the majority of court debts from shoplifting, totalling around £2,500. 

  • In a separate case, 42-year-old Daniel Kilshaw, of Barton Road, Newport, was jailed for eight weeks on  Tuesday, January 9, after he admitted to one shoplifting offence, namely stealing £286 worth of clothing from Sports Direct.

Magistrates also ordered both men to pay the stores they stole from to the value of unrecovered goods, in compensation, which will be deducted from benefits.