"Useless" thief jailed after blowing "last chance" (From Darlington and Stockton Times)

"Useless" thief jailed after blowing "last chance"

8:00am Saturday 18th August 2012 in News

A THIEF branded “useless” by a judge has been jailed after offending again – only eight days after being given a final chance to change his ways.

Ashley Readshaw, 23, stole a bicycle from outside B&Q, in Skippers Lane, Middlesbrough, last month, despite having a 12-month suspended sentence hanging over him for an attempted burglary.

Teesside Crown Court heard that Readshaw, of Dorothy Street, North Ormesby, Middlesbrough, rode to the B&Q store last month with a friend before stealing the bicycle, which had been secured to a railing.

Last month, Readshaw was given a 12-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, after being seen taking beading off a double-glazed kitchen window at a house in Cardigan Close, Grangetown, Middlesbrough, in January.

He fled when householder Paula Gray recognised Daniel Rouse, 16, who was helping him carry out the raid.

At that time, Judge George Moorhouse told Readshaw “it was a pretty useless attempt”.

During his latest offence, Ian Bradshaw, prosecuting, said Readshaw had carried out a blatant theft, which had been filmed on CCTV.

He said: “The footage showed Readshaw enter the B&Q store and upon coming out, wrench the bike from the railings it was secured to. He has then pushed it away and rode off.”

Yvonne Taylor, mitigating, said Readshaw, who admitted theft, understood the severity of potential custody, but had been demonised by personal issues which had clouded his judgement.

She said: “What happened in his private life put him in a downward spiral and he reacted badly to it. Give him this one last chance, he understands the far-reaching effects this has had on everyone.”

However, Judge Howard Crowson told Readshaw he had wasted his final chance and jailed him for 12 months.

He said: “You were given the opportunity to change your behaviour, but eight days later you stole a bicycle.

“You broke the suspended sentence about as quickly as you possibly could.”