Phillipart was jailed at Swansea Magistrates' Court
Comments (1)
Phoebe Flo, who passed away earlier this month
A DRUG user stole a pub tip jar and charity boxes raising money for the Royal British Legion – and one helping to fund a bid to save the life of tragic Brynmill child Phobe Flo.
Ross James Phillipart had targeted the donation tins in Sketty Park's Hen Dderwen pub, a café, Post Office and service station in Sketty, and Dunvant service station, in just over a week, beginning on November 20.
Swansea Magistrates' Court was told the amount contained in the collection tins, which are filled by donations from the public, was unknown.
READ MORE: One person has died and a man has been arrested following a serious collision on the M4 today
One of them, stolen from the Sketty café, had been raising money for five-year-old Phoebe Flo, to fund ground-breaking treatment in a bid to beat a rare brain tumour, diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma, an incurable condition.
Phoebe's was one of only 40 cases in Britain, and the youngster lost her fight to live two weeks ago.
Prosecuting, Lisa Jones told the court that Phillipart, had been captured on CCTV taking the tip jar from Hen Dderwen, and identified by someone who knew him.
She said the thefts by the 25-year-old, had been reported immediately to police by the other businesses, although a member of café staff said "she wanted to speak to Phoebe's family first, because it was such a sad time for them".
She added: "Unfortunately, the little girl has passed away".
Phillipart, of no fixed abode but whose contact address was given to the court as Lon Olchfa, Sketty, was arrested a day after his final theft, from Sketty Post Office, and had tested positive for cocaine and opiates.
The court was also told Phillipart, who has 16 convictions for 35 offences, including 14 of dishonest nature, owed £2,054 in outstanding fines, and had pleaded guilty to the five theft charges.
Mitigating, Dan Griffiths said: "He accepts the prosecution's case in its entirety.
"It was clearly blatant and lacked sophistication. He accepts it was a disgraceful thing he did and has expressed remorse, which in my submission is genuine.
"He did say 'I am disgusted with myself' to each offence.
"In police interview he did not shy from the reasons [he committed the offences]. He did it do get food and heroin, which has blighted his life.
"This is a desperate drug addict who stole to fund his addiction, and he knows his sentence will be immediate custody".
READ MORE: Eight months jail for mum who brandished 12 inch knife at strangers - and then missed son's 18th
Sentencing, chairman of magistrates Claire Miles said: "These offences are despicable. They were made against charities and we do not look kindly on that. They are mean offences".
He was ordered to serve six weeks for each offence, to run consecutively, and a further five weeks for non-payment of previous fines, also consecutively, totalling 35 weeks in custody.
He was also told he would be made subject to a supervision order on his release, and ordered to pay a £115 surcharge.
Read more at http://www.southwales-eveningpost.co.uk/jail-for-drug-user-who-stole-charity-tins-including-one-for-phoebe-flo/story-29943875-detail/story.html#oMPAkCDqMpL3IDii.99
No comments:
Post a Comment