Schools theft man avoids jail
A thief followed delivery vans around the Black Country to steal milk and bread from primary schools, a court heard.
A thief followed delivery vans around the Black Country to steal milk and bread from primary schools, a court heard.
Mark Smith, from Tipton, avoided a jail term after admitting stealing cartons of milk and bread intended for pupils at three schools in Tipton and Coseley.
Smith, aged 31, was also found with a knife when he was arrested, West Bromwich Magistrates Court heard.
He also pleaded guilty to unrelated offences of taking his wife's car without her consent and driving it without insurance or a licence in Wolverhampton and Tipton in April and May last year, as well as a charge of failing to surrender to bail. Smith, of Laburnum Road, was homeless at the time of the offences and was stealing food and milk to survive, the court was told.
He has now been ordered to pay compensation to the affected schools.
He was charged with stealing 40 cartons of milk, potatoes and other food worth £30 from Wallbrook Primary School in Bradleys Lane, Coseley, on January 9 but also admitted stealing six more times from two more schools and a shop, which were all taken into consideration.
Mrs Sarah Cooper, prosecuting, said he targeted Wednesbury Oak Primary School in Greenacre Road, Tipton, on December 15, January 12 and January 20, taking more than £170 of milk and food. He also took £10 of deliveries from Batman's Hill School in Princes End on January 16 and 23, as well as more than £200 of magazines and newspapers from Shop n Save in High Street, Tipton.
"In the early hours of the morning when there has been milk and bread deliveries he has been following delivery trucks around and when they were left unattended he has been taking milk and bread from them," she said.
Mrs Helen Pinning, defending, said Smith had been homeless and took the bread and milk in order to "survive."
She said the knife had just been used as a tool when he was sleeping rough and not as a weapon and he had taken his wife's car to go "tatting" to get money from metal. "When the police arrested him he got the knife out and gave it to them," she said.
"He was just using it as a tool because he was living rough.
"He has various mental health issues and had had substance abuse difficulties in the past."
Mrs Pinning said that Smith was back with his wife and had the support of his family to stay clear of substance abuse. He had tested negative for drugs when he was arrested and he was determined to get his life back on track.
Smith was sentenced to a 12 month community order, disqualified from driving for 12 months and had his licence endorsed and was ordered to pay a total of £435 in compensation and court costs.
