A CAREER criminal with an "extensive" record approaching 200 offences has admitted a fresh wave of thefts across Sandown and Lake — crimes committed within weeks of his release from prison.
Jamie Matlock, of Hope Mead, Langbridge, Newchurch, appeared before the Isle of Wight Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, February 10.
The 44-year-old pleaded guilty to 12 shoplifting offences committed in just under two months.
Matlock, long known to Island magistrates for his persistent offending, also admitted breaching bail conditions after failing to surrender to custody on January 18 and 19.
He was arrested on consecutive days for entering Tesco Express in Lake, despite being banned from doing so under bail terms imposed by magistrates on January 16.
The court heard Matlock had embarked on a spree of thefts from Tesco Express, Sainsbury’s and the Co‑op — targeting stores in Lake and Sandown almost daily in mid‑January.
Items taken ranged from groceries and wine, to meat and household products, with the total value of goods stolen reaching £757.
In one case, stolen cleaning products were recovered.
Noel Watkins, prosecuting, said Matlock's offending pattern was simple and brazen: “He’s gone in, he’s picked up, he’s walked out.”
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Matlock has an “extensive” criminal record — described in court as approaching 200 previous offences, with the majority relating to theft and handling stolen goods.
He was also identified as one of two men who received stolen medication following a break‑in at Jhoots Pharmacy, in Sandown last year.
His latest spate of offending saw him recalled to prison.
In mitigation, Michael McGoldrick said Matlock had relapsed into using street Valium almost immediately after his release, triggered by welfare issues involving his teenage daughter, and the failing health of his mother.
“His way of coping with those two bombshells was to use street Valium, which led to him wanting more and needing the means to buy more,” he said.
Matlock has been held in custody since January 22. Mr McGoldrick said his client accepted that the remand period had served as a “reality check”.
Matlock’s licence expires on March 11.
Magistrates ordered a pre‑sentence report and granted bail to return for sentencing on April 24, with a warning jail would not be ruled out.
