A serial offender stole almost £4,000 worth of goods from Isle of Wight stores after falling into drug debt and coming under pressure to repay the money, a court has heard.
Joseph Gulliver, 43, of Prince Street in Ryde, carried out a string of high-value thefts from Tesco and Waitrose, including stealing more than £1,100 worth of Jack Daniel’s whisky in a single incident.
His solicitor told the Isle of Wight Magistrates’ Court that drug use had left Gulliver ‘out of control’, while debts were putting pressure on both him and his family.
Gulliver previously pleaded guilty to 12 charges, 7 of which related to thefts from Tesco and Waitrose. The remaining offences included criminal damage, threatening behaviour, driving offences and breaching a community order.
The court heard that between 16th November 2025 and 28th June 2026, Gulliver stole goods worth a total of £3,769.95 from Tesco stores across the Isle of Wight, as well as £79.50 worth of goods from Waitrose.
His biggest single theft took place on 27th June, when he left Tesco Extra in Ryde with £1,105.50 worth of Jack Daniel’s whisky. The following day, he stole a further £872.50 worth of whisky.
Prosecutor David Fosler told Magistrates that none of the stolen items were recovered from Gulliver’s home.
Michael McGoldrick, defending, said the high-value offending had been driven by Gulliver’s drug debt and threats being made over the money he owed. The court heard Gulliver had been in hospital on a backboard when people visited him and threatened his life over the debt.
Mr McGoldrick said consistent drug use had left his client ‘out of control’, but told the court the debt was the main factor placing pressure on Gulliver and his family.
Gulliver’s offending was not limited to shoplifting.
On 24th June 2025, Gulliver and 3 others forced entry to a property in Ryde at around 08:30 while looking for someone. However, they had the wrong address and instead forced their way into a stranger’s home, leaving the female occupant in tears and fearing for her life. Gulliver pleaded guilty to causing criminal damage to the property’s front door.
The court also heard that Gulliver threatened a police officer, PC Blais, on 12th July, saying:
“Mark my words, PC Blais will be dead; I’ve got someone that can do that.”
The incident left the officer on high alert even when off duty. The court heard that PC Blais felt constantly on edge and was unable to attend events in Ryde or even visit the beach.
Gulliver was also before the court over a driving incident on 26th January. Despite holding only a provisional licence, he drove a Skoda Kamiq in Ryde before crashing into 2 parked cars and leaving the scene. He failed to report the collision at the time, later admitting to police that he had been driving.
Gulliver has been in custody since the end of July, with Mr McGoldrick telling Magistrates that his client believed being locked up had ultimately helped him.
Gulliver was quoted as saying:
“Custody is the best thing that could have happened to me.”
The court heard that his time in custody had allowed him to pay off the remainder of his debts using Universal Credit.
Probation had previously indicated that it no longer wanted to work with Gulliver because of his continued offending and breach of his community order, and considered that he should be sent to prison. However, Mr McGoldrick told the court Gulliver had already spent 41 days in custody and did not want to return.
In mitigation, the court was also told Gulliver had obtained work as a painter while in prison and had made arrangements to work with his cousin in Bognor Regis following his release.
Addressing Magistrates himself, Gulliver said:
“I just want you to know that this promise to you is not just to you but to my 18-year-old daughter. I really wish you would let me get on with my life.
“I need to grow up; I am too old for this.
“I just want to pull my socks up and get to work.”
The lead Magistrate told Gulliver he had been given a second chance. He was sentenced to 23 weeks in prison, suspended for 18 months.
Gulliver was also ordered to pay £1,256 compensation to Tesco and £26.50 to Waitrose and received 8 penalty points on his driving licence.
