COMPENSATION ORDER FOR MAN WHO STOLE CHICKEN AND BOOZE FROM CO-OP

A man who stole 3 large chicken breasts, an 8-pack of Henry Weston Cider and a 4-pack of Kronenburg has been ordered to pay back £52.50 to the Co-Op, but has faced no other penalty. Matthew Blanchard, care of Victoria Crescent in Ryde but previously of Wilton Park Road in Shanklin, appeared before the Isle of Wight Magistrates Court last Friday (23rd August) charged with 3 counts of theft from a shop. Lauren Stone, prosecuting, told the court that on 21st February, 23rd February and 24th February this year, Blanchard entered the Co-op on Landguard Road, Shanklin and stole a number of items – none of which were recovered. He was captured on CCTV on each occasion. Magistrates heard of his 9 previous convictions for 29 offences including shoplifting back in November 2023, burglary in 1997 and driving offences in 2001, 2020 and 2022. Defending, Jim Osborne pointed to his client’s absence of offending between 2010 and 2022, explaining that a breakdown of Blanchard’s 21-year marriage led to things going wrong. Mr Osborne said the father-of-4 lost his phone and couldn’t get in touch with the Department for Work and Pensions, which resulted in his Universal Credit being stopped. As such, he is homeless and not receiving any benefits. Due to his lack of means, Magistrates ordered Blanchard to simply pay compensation of £52.50 – but did not impose a fine, costs or surcharge. Matthew Blanchard currently owes the courts more than £1,600.