Chesterfield addict 'stole partner's television to buy crack cocaine and heroin'

Joe Owen Sheriff entered the property in Byron Close, Grassmoor, in June 2019 and took the television and around £15 in cash from a tin in the kitchen, Chesterfield Magistrates’ Court was told on Thursday, March 5.

Prosecuting, Emma Heath-Tilford said that at the time he was estranged from his partner and sold the TV at a Cash Converter store to buy the drugs.

She said: “They had been together for 13 years but had split up in May. On the day of the offence he had let himself into the property and taken the TV and some money from a tin in the kitchen which she has described as holiday cash.

“He had taken it to Cash Converter and got £50 for it.”

The Probation Service said that Sheriff, who is subject to a community order was doing well and is now drug free.

Mitigating, John Wilford said: “It’s clear that his life had been in some chaotic circumstances but he’s now clean of drugs - at the time he had issues with crack cocaine and heroin. His intention had been to buy the television back but because of the situation he was in he didn’t manage to pay it back.”

He added that Sheriff was now back at the address but living in a caravan.

Magistrates praised him for his progress with Probation, fined him £80 and ordered him to pay £85 costs and a £32 victim surcharge.