GREENWOOD AVOIDS JAIL AFTER CHURCH BURGLARY AND FRAUD OFFENCES

44-year-old Kevin Greenwood, who burgled a church during a Christmas carol concert and later went on to use bank cards that had been stolen during a football match in Shanklin, has been handed a 16-week suspended prison sentence. Greenwood appeared at the Isle of Wight Magistrates Court for sentencing this afternoon (Friday) after previously pleading guilty to 3 charges of fraud by false representation, as well as burglary other than dwelling and theft from the person of another. It was on 23rd December last year that Greenwood walked into All Saints Church in Ryde and stole a teenager’s rucksack just minutes into a Christmas carol concert. He then walked to the Co-Op opposite his house on nearby West Street and used the stolen bank card. He later used the same card at West Stores on St John’s Road. Greenwood was high on valium and was drunk at the time and doesn’t recall the incident.

Just under a month later, on 20th January, Greenwood committed a further offence of fraud by false representation when he used stolen bank cards at both Tesco Express and Premier Stores in Lake. It’s understood the cards were among items stolen from members of the Ventnor Reserves football squad during their Combination 1 fixture against Shanklin Reserves at County Ground in Shanklin. Greenwood claims to have found the cards on the floor. Just a week later, the 44-year-old committed a further act of fraud by using a stolen debit card at Sainsbury’s in Ryde, purchasing £76.15 of goods. He also tried to make other purchases at the Co-Op, but the transactions were declined by the bank. The card was found inside a £100 Michael Kors purse that Greenwood had found on the floor – a fact the Crown has accepted. The court heard from Greenwood’s solicitor, Oscar Vincent, that he had relapsed into alcohol and substance misuse following the death of his father, but had been able to detox from alcohol whilst being treated in hospital for sepsis last month. Mr Vincent told the bench that Kevin Greenwood now feels he has regained control. Furthermore, Magistrates heard that Greenwood feels shame, guilt and deep remorse for his actions, particularly the burglary at All Saint’s Church. Taking his previous convictions into account, the number of victims and also his ability to rehabilitated, Magistrates handed Kevin Greenwood a 16-week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, with 25 rehabilitation days to be carried out alongside an alcohol treatment programme. He must pay £476.50 in compensation. Greenwood has appeared on Island Echo multiple times in recent years, including when he stole a car user manual and broke into the garden of The Star Coffee & Ale House in Ryde. In 2018, he was convicted of drug driving and was handed a 12-week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, for attempted burglary in 2019. In 2021, was sentenced for resisting arrest.