Dosing drug addict fell asleep after shop burglary

Paul Stafford, 38, had been napping in the rear area of On Yer Bike on Yorke Street, Mansfield Woodhouse when staff turned up and called the police.

Stafford, of Newhaven Avenue, Mansfield Woodhouse, had been spotted on CCTV entering the back yard of the shop at around 6am on September 8.

He was seen wandering around the yard before he kicked a panel out of the back door and placed his hand inside.

He did not enter the shop but it is then thought he fell asleep in the yard for around three hours until being discovered by staff.

Admitting a charge of burglary at Mansfield Magistrates’ Court, it was heard how Stafford had been handed a suspended sentence earlier this year for theft and was also subject to a drug rehabilitation order.

It was heard that although Stafford was still testing positive to several drugs, but he had been making progress.

Asking the magistrates to step back from activating his suspended sentence, mitigating, Yvonne Wragg said: “It appears that Mr Stafford has changed his life, turned a corner and is taking the order of the court very seriously.

“Unfortunately, he has done something very stupid and silly. He has not stolen anything or even gone into the building. He has been on drugs half his life and it’s very difficult to kick these habits.”

After lengthy deliberation, the magistrates chose not to jail him immediately, claiming the positive feedback from probation had worked in his favour.

He was handed a 12-week sentence, suspended for 12 months, for his latest offence, a 12-month drug rehabilitation order, told to pay £50 compensation to the shop and £50 costs.