Charity box thief walks free from court

Instead, Layton Griffiths, aged 22, of Yew Tree Lane, Coseley, was given another suspended sentence and a curfew.

Griffiths targeted the Maha Shiv Shakti Mandir Hindu Temple in Willenhall on two consecutive days in August.

He entered the temple, in Fletchers Lane, and broke into charity boxes, stealing an unknown amount of money which the court heard could range anywhere between £900 and £7,500. At Wolverhampton Magistrates Court yesterday, the 22-year-old pleaded guilty to two counts of theft.

District Judge Graham Wilkinson told him: "These sorts of offences would offend anyone who hears about them.

"You are someone who preys on charity money which is there to do good in the world and you use it for your own sordid little lifestyle."

Judge Wilkinson sentenced Layton to four months in prison for the first theft and six months in prison for the second theft, both suspended for two years.

Griffiths was also given a five-month curfew, which requires him not to leave his Yew Tree Lane home between 6pm and 6am every day.

Judge Wilkinson said it was the longest curfew he had ever handed out.

"This includes Christmas and New Year," he told Layton.

"Everyone else can go out and have a good time and enjoy themselves but you can stay at home and think about your behaviour."

Mrs Jayne Yeomans, prosecuting, told the court: "The value of the money taken is unknown.

"But we do know that from 2007 to 2008 the collections raised £18,000 and from 2008 to 2009. It was also £18,000 for the year."

She added the collection box had not been emptied for five months but temple members thought it could have contained around £1,000.

Griffiths, who is already subject to another suspended sentence for a separate matter, the circumstances of which were not read out in court, maintains the money stolen was around £900 and that he was sorry for his actions.

He also pleaded guilty to failing to appear in court at the designated time but was given no extra punishment for this.