Thief is jailed for 26 weeks after spree

A thief has been jailed after he stole to eat, pay for drugs and to deal with a debt.
Pictured is Justin Burroughs, 40, of Green Farm Close, Chesterfield, who was jailed for 26 weeks after committing four thefts.Pictured is Justin Burroughs, 40, of Green Farm Close, Chesterfield, who was jailed for 26 weeks after committing four thefts.
Pictured is Justin Burroughs, 40, of Green Farm Close, Chesterfield, who was jailed for 26 weeks after committing four thefts.

Chesterfield magistrates’ court heard on Thursday, May 5, how Justin Burroughs, 40, of Green Farm Close, Chesterfield, admitted stealing meat, washing powder and other goods from a Co-op store in Chesterfield and from a Co-op store at Littlemoor and the B&M store in the town.

Prosecuting solicitor Becky Allsop said: “He was identified by CCTV at the Co-op at Littlemoor on April 6 where he had put steak and meat products into a bag and left.

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“On April 29 he went into B&M and picked up items and was stopped.”

Mrs Allsop added that he also stole meat and washing powder from a Co-op in Chesterfield on April 21 and meat from the same store on May 4.

Burroughs also admitted breaching a bail condition by entering a retail store and breaching a previously imposed conditional discharge for an assault.

The defendant told police he stole from B&M to buy heroin and he stole from the Co-op on April 6 to get something to eat.

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Defence solicitor Denny Lau said: “He started using heroin at an early age of 14 but there was a big gap in his offending from 2011 to 2015.

“He is someone who can stay out of trouble with support and he had volunteered helping other drug users and he was running courses.

“He never thought he would come back before the court.

“His partner also passed away in 2014 and he turned back to drugs and ended up back in court and the drug use started again because of this trigger.”

Mr Lau also explained how his difficulties also returned when he took on a new partner’s debt.

Magistrates jailed Burroughs for 26 weeks and ordered him to pay £72.71 in compensation.