Prolific shoplifter with suspended sentence now behind bars
A 49-year-old man who was handed a suspended sentence for shoplifting has now been jailed after being caught stealing again a week later.
Paul Restall, of Harrison Gardens [Illogan] was given an eight-week suspended sentence on 16 February this year following a spate of four shopliftings and a breach of his criminal behaviour order.
The Cornwall local will now spend 18-weeks in prison after stealing from Co-op in St Ives and Tesco in Penzance just ten days after his initial conviction.
Restall appeared at Truro Magistrates Court on Tuesday 14 April where he admitted to the two thefts which took place on 26 and 28 February.
PS John Scrimgeour, who heads up the local team in Penzance said: “Suspended sentences provide convicted offenders an opportunity to step away from their pattern of criminal behaviour.
“In this case, Restall continued to steal from shops seemingly without any care around the impact that his shoplifting was having on local shops or their employees.
“We take business crime seriously and will continue work with retailers to target prolific offenders to disrupt, deter and prevent theft from taking place.”
Suspended prison sentences are served in the community instead of in prison. If a convicted offender breaks the conditions of their suspended sentence, they can be sent to prison.
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