Serial crook with over 200 crimes on his record burgled Hartlepool Tesco just weeks after jail let off

Drug user Shaun Landreth was given a chance by a judge on March 4 when he was given a suspended prison sentence after admitting a house burglary.

But on March 31, the 43-year-old burgled an enclosed area at the back of Tesco Express on Wiltshire Way at 3.45am when he looked for food to steal.

The same judge who gave Landreth an opportunity to quit crime and get help for a longstanding drug problem said he had used up all his chances and jailed him for two-and-a half years on Monday, June 22.

Martin Towers, prosecuting, told Teesside Crown Court the burglary was captured on the store's CCTV.

He said: “The footage shows him shining a torch into a roller cage which contained barbecue stock.”

Although nothing was taken Mr Towers added: “This offence was committed a number of days after the lockdown came into full force converting supermarkets like Tesco into slightly more essential status than they ordinarily would have.”

The court heard Landreth had 208 offences on his criminal record including over 100 for theft and similar matters.

Stephen Constantine, defending, said in mitigation that Landreth was extremely short of cash and went in search of food Tesco was going to dispose of.

“He went there to find food,” said Mr Constantine. “There wasn’t any food and he left without taking anything.

“This was a desperate act by a man in desperate circumstances.”

Landreth, of Topcliffe Street, Hartlepool, admitted burglary with intent to steal and possession of cannabis which he had upon his arrest.

Judge Stephen Ashurst activated the two years prison previously suspended and gave him six months for the burglary and court order breaches.

He said: “I did tell you that if you committed another offence I wouldn’t hesitate to activate the suspended sentence and the mitigation which was deployed on that occasion would not wash a second time, and I’m afraid that’s the case.”

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