A PROLIFIC criminal has started his latest prison sentence after admitting burglary, fraud, and shop thefts.
Gary Wright has a lengthy record of acquisitive offences recorded against him after he turned to crime to fund his drug habit.
His latest flurry of offending took place in May when he stole a woman’s rucksack from her home after taking to the opportunity to creep in through an unlocked door while she was sitting in her garden.
The 41-year-old then used the victim’s bank card on four occasions before he was eventually arrested, Teesside Crown Court heard.
Emma Atkinson, prosecuting, said Wright was identified on CCTV using the bank card and police recovered the clothing he was wearing at the time when they searched his home.
The defendant also carried out three shoplifting offences two days later on May 13 when her stole hundreds of pounds worth of goods.
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Miss Atkinson added: “He has entered Boots carrying a number of carried bags and a backpack, he has gone straight to the cosmetic section removed the security tags and made his way out without paying.”
Wright was stopped by security with £256 worth of cosmetics but pretended to want to pay before handing over the goods. The guard has then contacted other shops to alert them about his suspicious behaviour.
The court heard he was spotted going into WHSmith’s and taking £60 worth of chocolate without paying and then returning to Boots to attempted to steal £220 worth of cosmetics.
Miss Atkinson said all of the stolen goods were recovered.
Wright has 90 convictions for 243 offences, including theft, robbery, handling stolen goods and burglary.
Wright, of Leybourne Terrace, Stockton, pleaded guilty to burglary, attempted burglary of a shop in Stockton, four charges of fraud and three counts of shop theft.
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Emma Williams, in mitigation, said her client had been a drug addict since he was 16 but was now addicted to crack cocaine and tablets.
She said: “If he was not taking drugs, he tells me that he would not be committing any offences.”
Recorder Aisha Wadoodi sentenced Wright to a total of three years for all offences.
She added: “You have an appalling record for burglary, not just dwelling properties but also non-dwelling properties.”
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