Prison warning for South Yorkshire deodorant thief with a drug problem

Liam Spilliane stole £59 of deodorants from Lidl on Masbrough Street, Rotherham, on March 29, and returned the next day to steal £93 of the same items, prosecutor Brian Outhwaite told the court on Friday.

He was stopped outside by the manager as a police car was passing and arrested.

On April 11, he was detained on suspicion of shoplifting and brought to Rotherham police station, where a small foil bag with £5 of heroin was found on him.

He admitted buying it for his own use.

The court heard that he received a 20-month sentence suspended for two years for aggravated vehicle taking and setting fire to the vehicle on September 2, 2019.

Amy Earnshaw, mitigating, said he is now engaging well with the probation service.

Spilliane, aged 21, of Poynton Avenue, Ulley, pleaded guilty to the thefts and breaching a suspended sentence.

On Friday, Judge Rachael Harrison said: "The best thing that can be said in his favour is that he has completed another court order since then."

She told Spilliane: "You should assume that if you come back again you will go to prison.

"There will be no more chances. The onus is on you."

The judge imposed a 12-month community order, with 15 rehabilitation days, a two-month curfew which will run from 6pm to 4am, as well as a £20 fine.

Read the latest cases from Sheffield Crown Court here.

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