A SERIAL shoplifter who 'stole to order' on 11 occasions — ten of them within the space of three weeks — to feed his cocaine habit, was jailed by Isle of Wight magistrates.
Warren Russell, of Sandown Road, Shanklin, admitted ten shoplifting offences in the Bay area between February 7 and March 1, plus another on Christmas Eve, last year.
Jobless Russell, 38, also admitted common assault against store security officer, Colin Hoare, at Morrison's supermarket, Lake, on March 1.
As a result of the offences, Russell admitted breaching a 12-week suspended jail sentence, imposed in August last year for offending linked to drug abuse.
His shoplifting spree included luxury items such expensive perfumes, sirloin steak, fresh salmon, top end dental products and men's face creams and after shaves.
Russell, who targeted the Co-op, Boots, Morrison's and Sainsbury's in the Bay area — Sandown, Lake and Shanklin — stole £949 worth of goods. Some £659 worth of it was not recovered, said Liz Miller, prosecuting, at the Isle of Wight Magistrates' Court, today (Tuesday).
Miss Miller, who said Russell had "a really bad record for shoplifting", described the shop thefts for which he was eventually arrested.
On March 1, Russell went into Morrison's in Lake, and took items from the perfumes display.
When challenged by the store's deputy manager and escorted to security staff at the entrance, Russell was asked to hand over the goods and became aggressive — struggling to break free by swinging Mr Hoare around by his arm.
On December 24, at the same store, he stole sun care items and left, but was followed by a security officer to an address, police were called and he was arrested.
"What he was stealing was probably to order," said Miss Miller.
For Russell, Oscar Vincent said his client did not injure the officer and that his shoplifting spree was linked to his relapse into using crack cocaine.
Although Mr Vincent conceded Russell had an extensive criminal history, he argued his regular offending over a three-week period was due to him being made homeless.
"His life collapsed around him, which exacerbated suicidal thoughts — but by March, he had snapped out of it," said Mr Vincent.
Magistrates activated Russell's suspended sentence, jailing him for 16 weeks, with an order to pay a £28 victim surcharge.
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