South Lynn man given 'last chance' after shop thefts

An 18-year-old man from South Lynn was told he has "one last chance" after being given a suspended jail sentence for theft.

Adam Brian Dean, of Morleys Leet, was sentenced to eight weeks in custody, suspended for 12 months, when he appeared before town magistrates on Monday.

He had pleaded guilty to three charges of theft from shops at an earlier hearing.

The court heard he stole £29 worth of goods from Wilkinson's including Yankee candles on December 11.

On January 16, he stole £81.61 worth of meat from Sainsbury's in Lynn. He then stole six bottles of vodka, worth £84, from the Co-op in Dersingham on January 18.

The court was told all of the goods had been recovered and Dean admitted he was going to sell them for drugs.

Dean's probation officer told the court he had problems which make him "extremely vulnerable" such as learning difficulties and visual impairment, and that he had been in support accommodation.

An NHS support officer said Dean had a "horrendous upbringing" after being beaten and assaulted as a child.

He said: "He is a very damaged young man. We cannot get him to engage with us. The help is there for him.

"He was referred to junior support. His options for housing in King's Lynn are virtually non-existent and he would be homeless without support.

"I am lost to be honest. If he is unwilling to help when co-operating, there is very little we can do."

The court also heard how Dean had been bullied while in prison previously, and had been encouraged to steal the items for his "street credibility."

As part of the sentence, Dean was given a two month curfew, for which he will be fitted with an electronic tag.

He was also told there "would be no second chance if you come to court again" and it would be "almost guaranteed that he would be sent to prison."