A Carlisle man who told police he was not a criminal – as he was caught committing his 200th crime – has been jailed.
Officials from a security firm alerted officers to an alarm sounding at the city’s Poundland on St Nicholas Gate, at 3.30am on June 27.
Carlisle Magistrates’ Court heard PCs went to the store where a hole smashed in a glass pane was large enough for a male to fit through.
Police saw 49-year-old Jason George Foster pulling a basket containing items from the shop. He was arrested and a screwdriver was found in his possession.
While he was in custody, police learned attempts had been made to force entry at the next-door Asda store with significant damage caused to a door which had blood on it.
It then also emerged that dash-cams had been snatched from two company vans outside the nearby Iceland outlet. CCTV footage in both areas captured the suspect matching Foster’s description and wearing the same clothes in which he was arrested.
Yet of his apprehension, prosecutor George Shelley said of Foster: “He stated he was not a criminal. If he was going to rob somewhere, it would be somewhere better than Asda.”
Earlier, on May 30, Foster had stolen £120 worth of meat from the city’s Denton Street Co-op, and washing products worth £68 from Foreways at Newlaithes Avenue six days later.
He admitted five theft charges and two of burglary with intent to steal in court today when magistrates heard he had 77 previous convictions on his record for 196 offences.
Giving mitigation, lawyer Tariq Khawam said Foster, of Bannisdale Way, had led a troubled life. “He has been a heroin addict since he was 17,” said Mr Khawam.
Magistrates jailed Foster for a total of nine months, and ordered compensation to be paid to the Co-op and Foreways.
