A prolific shoplifter has been sent to prison after throwing away a chance he was given by a court to mend his ways.
In July last year, police secured a two-year criminal behaviour order against 31-year-old Alfonso Bitton.
An order is requested by a prosecutor in court — at the request of police officers — and imposes restrictions on an offender.
In Britton’s case, it banned him from entering all premises which are part of the Carlisle Shopwatch scheme and also from going into any Heron Foods, Morrisons and Aldi stores.
But Bitton was back in court today when he admitted four offences which occurred late last week.
He pleaded guilty to stealing 10 steaks, worth a total of £81.10, during visits to Carlisle’s Kingstown Road Aldi store on April 17 and April 18 and flouting the order by being inside the shop on those dates.
In court, the prosecution said Bitton, of Parkside, Carlisle, had 17 previous convictions for 38 offences — 23 of those involving theft or other dishonesty.
District judge Philip Holden noted that Bitton was also subject to a previously imposed community order for past thefts, an attempted theft and order breaches, when he committed his latest crimes.
Bitton had further been made subject to a separate deferred sentence, by the same district judge, for multiple other thefts and assaulting a police constable.
A probation officer told the court that other formal breach proceedings had been launched last week as a result of poor recent compliance.
Defence solicitor Adele Graham, mitigating, said: “Mr Bitton takes full responsibility for his actions.”
The underlying driver for his criminal conduct, said the lawyer, was an entrenched drug addiction. “He only offends when he is under the influence of drugs,” said Miss Graham.
Bitton had shown a willingness to work with structured support services, and had secured stable accommodation. “He is aware (of the custody risk) today,” added Miss Graham. “I have made him aware of the likely outcome.”
And the district judge said an immediate sentence was the only punishment he could impose.
“You were given the opportunity not to go to prison by complying with probation and also staying out of trouble,” said the judge. “You appear to have done neither of those, and here you are again with more offences.
“I am afraid, Mr Bitton, that the time has come now to go to custody. Whatever has been said on your behalf, you have continued to offend. You have continued to not take on board assistance offered to you.”
Bitton was given an immediate seven-month jail term. The order remains in force until the summer of 2027.
