David Archer, one of Britain's most prolific offenders, tried to steal a charity box from McDonald’s by setting fire to the rope which attached it to the counter
One of Britain’s most prolific shoplifters, who has nearly 400 offences to his name and has spent half his life in jail, has been sent back to prison – on his 62nd birthday.
David Archer had tried to steal a charity box from McDonald’s at Rhyl by setting fire to the rope which secured it to the counter.
He pleaded guilty at Llandudno court to attempted theft and to resisting a policeman who was trying to handcuff him.
Prosecutor James Neary said: “CCTV quite clearly shows the defendant when no one is looking trying to set fire to the rope so he could steal the box.”
“He’d tried to distract a woman assistant by asking for fries to be added to his cheeseburger.
“When spoken to by police, his speech was slurred as if he were affected by drink or drugs.”
Archer, who has previous convictions involving charity boxes, was in court for the third time in a month, but had been spared custody on the previous two occasions.
Mr Neary said an ASBO banned him from entering any charity shop in England and Wales.
Huw Roberts, defending, said Archer maintained that, after the rope had been scorched, he’d had a change of mind about stealing the charity box.
He had been allocated a flat by the council in Bath Street in Rhyl and was making more of an effort than in the past to attend probation appointments.
“He’s desperate for any custody to be suspended,” said Mr Roberts.
“He’s 62 now and fed up with being in a vicious circle.”
However, magistrates imposed a 16-week sentence and ordered Archer to pay a £115 surcharge, to be added to nearly £600 he is paying to the court.
http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/shoplifter-whos-spent-half-life-12702362
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