Prolific thief Warren Russell has again been sent to prison after he admitted stealing goods and alcohol from 2 shops in Ryde Town Centre.
Russell, 39, of Green Street in Ryde, pleaded guilty to 3x theft when he appeared at the Isle of Wight Magistrates Court today (Friday).
Russell admitted theft of £60 worth of goods from Poundland in Ryde and £118.50 of alcohol from Co-op on January 30th as well as theft of £32.25 worth of goods from Poundland yesterday (2nd February.
The 39-year-old has appeared on Island Echo on numerous occasions and has massed up a mammoth record of over 115 convictions, the majority of which are for shoplifting.
He was previously sent to prison in March 2022 after stealing over £700 of goods from Morrisons in Lake in a drug-fuelled crime spree.
Russell was already due to appear at court today, with his name listed for a drug rehabilitation order review.
Inspector Andy McDonald said:
“Retail crime such as shoplifting is a blight on our hardworking business owners and staff. Neighbourhoods Teams across the Island are taking a particularly robust stance against this and I hope local businesses can be pleased and reassured by today’s court result for Warren Russell.
Article continues below this advertisement “We are grateful to the retailers who sign up to the Shopwatch scheme on the Isle of Wight. This scheme has proved crucial in assisting NPT officers with their enquiries into these types of offences.”
Magistrates handed Russell a 20-week prison sentence.
Change weeks to years
Bit harsh me thinks .He needs bringing back into society with a little nudge in the right direction.Maybee Mark you could be his mentor
Oh dear. This guy really needs help with rehabilitation.
Just as well for him that he doesn’t live in a country such as Iran or Saudi Arabia.
Got to hand it to him 😉
He costs us money no matter what he does, and no matter what the judge does. When he’s free to steal, its costing us at the tills as shops put up prices to combat these thefts. Now in prison, he’s costing us over a grand a week for his accommodation at hmp. There was a saying, crime doesn’t pay!
Why doesn’t the council step in .If they ramped up his benefits by 3to 4 hundred pounds a week he would not be out shoplifting.Shame on you IOW council.
Supply him with free H so he can OD
problem solved
Give him a free House so he can Ocassionaly Dance how does that solve the problem?
Who stole your brain and when I wonder!!!
Why are you not in jail you lazy scroungere??…we don’t want your kind claiming benefits that we have to pay for…Your attitude stinks…
Why I am only claiming what I am rightly entitled to and I only get£380 a week.This is not easy for me to live on with the cost of living crisis.I can only go to the pub twice a week now down from 4 times I have had to make cutbacks.
I think DD was being ironic!
Have you got the brains of a rocking horse. He needs to get a long spell inside, not higher benefits.
NOW ITS GOING TO COST A GRAND A WEEK TO KEEP-HIM IN PRISON..3 to 4 hundred pounds in extra benefits is less than half of that.This seems to be the way ahead save taxpayer 6 to 7 hundred pounds a week.
Do the maths.20 weeks at 1000pounds a week equals£20000. 20 weeks at £400 a week equals £8000 so by increasing benefits saves the taxpayer £12000 .The way ahead it’s anobrainer.
You are an idiot daffy – if you hand out hundreds a week in benefits, on top of what people can already get, then you will see more and more people quit work and claim benefits – as no one will be working – who will stock the shelves at tesco, who will serve at mcdonalds, who will sweep the streets, who will maintain the electricity grid, so you can post crap on this site from your phone.
think about it – if benefits are too attractive, society collapses as no one works.
You are having a laugh! What a stupid comment.
Why give this Drugged up low life a penny. His benefits should be stopped not increased. Why would you give him more tax payers cash for more drug’s?
He just won’t learn? Well don’t keep letting the piece of scum out then
115 convictions, so probably got away with at least double. Why not send him of to Rawanda,he just takes and takes in form of state benefits, housing and in prison, other law abiding can’t afford to eat or heat homes he gets it for free. This country is to soft . 1 or 2 convictions and learn, but 115 no .
He just won’t learn? Let the inmates teach him what happens if he steals from them
Electroshock therapy or doing a Jeffrey Esptein on him would work wonders
You are definitely not a good driver….
Chop hand off,,,, simple
So, out in a couple of months, and back on the rob for crack in a couple of hours..
Out in approximately 8 weeks and on the thieve again within a week, will never learn and will always be a burden on society that no amount of help and support will change
Mummy and daddy must be so proud
Looks like rumplestiltskin
20 weeks is pathetic and he knows he’ll be out in 10 weeks if he behaves himself.
Give him a couple of years, he just might grow up and stop thieving.
115 plus convictions how much did all that cost. Now has a 20 week prison sentence as if that will help, a 2 year one might if he has no access to alcohol or drugs.