Serial shoplifter stole to feed drug habit

A drug addict admitted raids on three shops and a bookmakers when he appeared before Bristol Magistrates' Court.

Julian Langlais, 35, of Penrose, Hengrove, pleaded guilty to stealing £200 from Coral bookmakers in Knowle; chocolate worth £14.10 from Tesco in Wells Road; groceries worth £38.58 from Martin McColls and cosmetics worth £80 from Superdrug.

He carried out the thefts between July last year and Sunday, April 26, the court was told.

Langlais also pleaded guilty to failing to attend a follow-up assessment at Broadbury Road police station in Knowle in February.

Crown Prosecutor Rachel Garstang said Langlais reached underneath a security screen to take the cash from the bookmakers on March 1. Ann Pitman, defending, said a community order and drug rehabilitation programme would be the most appropriate punishment for her client.

She said: "He has a list of previous convictions but the last intervention was in 2001, and that order didn't last very long."

Miss Pitman said the offence at the bookmakers was prompted by the theft of her client's bag and money before Christmas.

District judge Simon Cooper said Langlais needed to be assessed to see if he was suitable for a drug rehabilitation programme.

He said: "A community order will be considered. He has not learned from previous sentences and has been stealing for a considerable amount of time to support himself and his habit.

"We should be able to come up with a good package of conditions as an alternative to custody."