South Yorkshire drug addict spared from jail after burgling shop
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Sheffield Magistrates’ Court heard on September 23 how Ian Copeland Barr, aged 37, of Winchester Court, off Nottingham Street, near Eastwood, Rotherham, raided the Food Plus store, on All Saints Square, Rotherham, with an unidentified male.
Kirsty Pearson, prosecuting, said: “Two males approached the front door and kicked the right handside panel of the entrance door.
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Hide Ad"The door was boarded-up but they kicked through making a hole and the offender identified as the defendant climbed through the hole in the glass panel and kicked it inside to allow the second unidentified male to climb through.”
Barr jumped down into the till area which was broken in the process, according to Ms Pearson, and the two offenders grabbed bottles of spirits and placed them in a bag before running from the store.
Ms Pearson said Barr was arrested and admitted committing the burglary and he also admitted five shop thefts from Home Bargains, in Rotherham, after he was shown CCTV footage of the shoplifting.
Barr, who has previous convictions, pleaded guilty to the non-dwelling burglary from September 22 and admitted the five shoplifting offences which were committed between September 9 and 18.
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Hide AdMs Pearson said Barr stole Persil liquid and cleaning products during the shoplifting offences which were captured on CCTV.
Pari Seeley, defending, said Barr has a heroin addiction and the shop thefts were committed to feed that drug habit and the burglary was committed because of a drug-debt.
Ms Seeley added: “The shop thefts were all to do with the drug habit and the burglary was because of a drug-debt he had accrued, and he was heavily influenced by the other person in the burglary.”
She said: “I think he should at least be given the opportunity to get help.”
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Hide AdMagistrates imposed a 12-week custodial sentence suspended for 12 months with a nine-month Drug Rehabilitation Requirement and a Rehabilitation Activity Requirement of up to 30 days.
He was also ordered to pay a £128 victim surcharge.