Drug-troubled thief is given eight-week curfew

Chesterfield magistrates’ court heard on Wednesday, May 18, how Kenneth Edward Duffield, 39, was caught by police after he was reported by a Shopwatch scheme radio to have stolen two bottles of gin.

Prosecuting solicitor Becky Allsop said police saw Duffield in Ripley after a Shopwatch radio report revealed someone had stolen two bottles of gin from a Co-op in Ripley.

The police saw Duffield in a car, according to Mrs Allsop, and he was also found with numerous bars of chocolate stolen from a Tesco Express in Codnor.

Duffield, of Woolsington Close, Nottingham, pleaded guilty to stealing the gin and admitted stealing the chocolate bars after the two thefts on May 6.

The court also heard how Duffield has 30 previous convictions relating to 70 offences.

Duffield, according to the probation service, also has problems with substance misuse.

The probation service added that Duffield had come to Derbyshire to see a friend when he stole the booze to share.

Magistrates sentenced Duffield to a 12 month community order with a ten day Rehabilitation Activity Requirement and ordered him to pay £85 costs and an £85 victim surcharge.

He was also given a daily 7pm to 7am curfew to last eight-weeks.

Magistrates urged Duffield to co-operate with the probation service to help him stop his drug offending.