Serial Wellingborough thief spared jail

He committed 12 thefts in under three months
Northampton Magistrates' Court.Northampton Magistrates' Court.
Northampton Magistrates' Court.

A thief who stole 12 times in under three months has been spared from an immediate spell in prison.

James Sanders, of Swinburne Road in Wellingborough, was caught stealing 11 times at a One Stop alone having taken alcohol, sweets and meat worth hundreds of pounds.

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The 22-year-old was sentenced at Northampton Magistrates' Court earlier this week after admitting 12 counts of theft and two assaults.

The first theft took place on March 7 when he took meat worth £24.50 from a One Stop, before he helped himself to large boxes of chocolate and meat valued at £112.50 four days later.

On April 8 he stole shower products worth £60 before stealing food, coffee and juice worth £71.60 the next day.

On April 13 Sanders was then caught stealing sweets and chocolate worth £110, before going back two days later to steal two Wispa bars.

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On April 15 he also assaulted a woman at the One Stop in Swinburne Road.

A couple of weeks later on May 1 he stole chilled items worth £49, then returned to steal a crate of San Miguel, and then stole 16 lots of cheese worth £77.50 on May 5.

Sanders was caught stealing again on May 11 when he helped himself to San Miguel worth £44, then again on May 15 when he took meat worth £90 from a Co-op, and then returned to stealing at the One Stop on May 23 when he took Stella Artois.

The total value of the items he stole was well in excess of £600.

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He was later arrested and also admitted an assault which took place in Middlesbrough in July 2019.

But magistrates in Northampton decided to give him a second chance and suspended a jail term, sentencing him to 16 weeks in prison suspended for 18 months.

Sanders must also pay compensation of £350 and a surcharge to fund victim services of £122.