44-year-old Ross Minter has been handed a conditional discharge after admitting to stealing steak and alcohol from Sainsbury’s in Newport because he was hungry.
Appearing at the Isle of Wight Magistrates Court on Tuesday, Minter pleaded guilty to a single charge of theft from a shop on 17th May this year – just weeks after appearing before the courts for a similar matter back in April.
Ann Smout, prosecuting, said that Minter had a horrendous record of theft and had been caught on CCTV taking steak and alcohol from the shelves before going to the women’s clothing aisle to place the items up his jumper, discarding the packaging.
Minter, of Whitcombe Road in Carisbrooke, was recognised from CCTV footage.
Representing himself, Ross said that he stole the meat to eat but was very adamant that he did not sell on the items. He admitted he shouldn’t have done it but did not have the money to buy food having had his benefits cut to £39 a month.
Magistrates heard that the 44-year-old already owes the court £614 so they opted for a 12-month conditional discharge and ordered Minter to pay £19.95 compensation to Sainsbury’s. No fine, costs or surcharge were imposed.
Who’d operate a retailer, when judges do nothing over theft. Perhaps get a job.
Ross Minter aka The Weather man!
Living off £39 a month,no wonder he resorted to crime!
Its not 39 a month is it ? Rent paid, dental and prescriptions paid, council tax paid, free travel paid and whatever else he gets and i bet he smokes too
perhaps if he complied with the requirements of the benefits agency and provided evidence of looking for a job, then he wouldn’t be sanctioned. Also – how many crisis loans has he had, which is recovered from his benefit payments as well.
It say his benefits where Cut by 39 pounds, it’s not the total benefits..
cut TO £39.
don’t forget the heroin addiction
He will not have his council tax paid for him actually. Every one ,regardless of any job or benefits you are on has to pay council tax. He may get a reduced tax bill but he still has to pay a council tax bill that most people can not afford. I am NOT defending him ,just giving you facts Willy worm. ( stupid bloody name) .
err no steven – part of the universal credit packages include council tax benefit – in other words, it is paid for them – they do not pay one penny from money they have earned or made from their own efforts, as the rest of us do.
Looks like he’s having a really difficult time with only £39 a month to buy food. Seems to me he could do with a break.
no – he could do with being homeless, on the street and penniless until he learns that the state safety net, is just that, a safety net and not a lifestyle choice.
He had been on the streets for years Which no one should be homeless Hes trying to get by on £39 month I couldn’t live on £39 I can’t see anyone living on that Maybe he needs a break Unless ur walking in his shoes don’t judge
someone needs to break it’s neck. put it out it’s misery
sadly the hand wringing socialist do gooders will be rallying around to make sure he successfully sponges off the taxpayer and his victims get no justice, after all, that is what they do.
Benifits cut he is lucky to get anything how about us poor workers earning a living just to pay bills those days i blame the snowflakes and tree huggers it was said yrs ago that it will come back and bite them on the arse and it has!!! Bang them up and make them earn their dole money
Perhaps if our government and council’s didn’t give so much away to refugees like the 17 we pay for in London this man and nany many other British people would get more help. He might be a bad one but not all are bad and need help from the people who govern this country.
I cant afford steak but apparently is OK/consequence free if I just take? Oh, OK .
why are we even giving that dirty smack head benefits
The magistrates are absolutely disgusting individuals. It seems crime is the way to go on the island now. It’s a wonder they didn’t send him on a paid holiday. I wish I knew who these magistrates were as I would love to get my hands on them…
Perhaps this bloke should seriously consider getting himself a job. He would have more money and wouldn’t have to take from the British tax payer, could contribute to society and stop thieving!?!?!?!
Oh no wait, he’s got mental health issues!!!!!!!!!!
I cannot believe some of the horrible remarks about this man I thought people here had more compassion than this. Maybe if you end up in this position you will think differently. Shame on you especially inciting violence. And I would advise looking up benefits before jumping to all these assumptions.
Compassion from these people Never going to happen It’s black n white to them Not that he was hungry I think people need to look into how benefits work As it’s making peoples life even harder You think the man chose his life path Or maybe he got caught up with wrong ppl Think ppl need to have more empathy