Hartlepool thief with 'flagrant disregard for court orders' is jailed

Kevin John Howlett stole electrical goods, beauty products, confectionery, store cards and a driving licence during four thefts in just 16 days.

Boots and Iceland stores were among his targets.

Howlett, 38, of Eton Street, Hartlepool, who flouted the terms of his previous sentence, was jailed as magistrates considered the case to be “so serious because the defendant has a flagrant disregard for court orders”.

He was imprisoned for three weeks at Teesside Magistrates’ Court for each of the thefts, which were all committed in town between March 11 and March 27, and also received another fortnight in custody after he was re-sentenced for the earlier conviction for interfering with a motor vehicle on December 30.

Howlett, who also admitted possessing cocaine on March 23, was ordered to pay £309 compensation, a £128 victim surcharge and £85 prosecution costs.

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