A Milford man stole from stores in the town to fund his ‘spice’ drug habit magistrates heard this week.
A warrant without bail has been issued for a Milford man who failed to appear in court this week to answer to charges of theft.
Forty-seven-year-old Steven George Smith, of St Davids Road, who was due to appear at Haverfordwest Magistrates Court last week, but failed to show up for the hearing appeared on Tuesday to face five counts of theft.
He pleaded guilty to stealing a Nesquik Milkshake to the value of £2 from Home Bargains, Milford Haven on June 15; and on the same day two tubs of ice cream worth £8.50 from the town’s Tesco store.
He also admitted stealing groceries to the value of £33.91 belonging to Lidl Stores in Milford Haven on May 15; a baguette to the value ofd £3 from CK Stores on Charles Street, Milford Haven on July 1; and £16 worth of items from CK Stores in Hakin on July 5.
Mr. Smith pleaded guilty to a bail act offence after failing to appear in court last week.
Prosecutor Abul Hussain told magistrates that the defendant had not troubled the court since 2010, so he was not sure why he had gone back to offending again after such a long patch.
Defence solicitor Mike Kelleher said that there was a considerable back story to the matter.
“Mr. Smith has been out of court for nearly nine years and pretty much stopped drinking alcohol but swapped that for what was the legal high called ‘Spice’ - which he was buying for £5 to start with before it increased to £7.50.
“He resorted to stealing food for himself or to sell to get money to buy Spice which had effectively taken over his life.
“He told me that he was sorry he ever started smoking this drug and gone down this road, and hoped that others might read his story in the local press as a lesson,” he added.
Probation officer Julie Norman told the court that Mr. Smith who previously served with the RAF and armed forces had admitted shoplifting to generate money for the drug.
“He has developed a dependence on Spice. He has gone to DDAS (Dyfed Drug and Alcohol Service) in the past and needs help with his addiction.
“Mr. Smith is in arrears with his rent and electricity payments he tells me. Financial issues are prevalent here,” she added.
Magistrates handed the defendant a 12 month community order with a 15 day Rehabilitation Activity Requirement to work with DDAS, and 80 hours of unpaid work in the community.
Mr. Smith was ordered to pay a total of £47.41 compensation to the stores he stole from, prosecution costs of £85, an £85 victim surcharge, and a £40 fine for the bail act offence.