NO PRISON TIME FOR YOUNG AFTER BRAZEN THEFT FROM HAVENSTREET HONESTY SHOP

Another of the Island’s prolific criminals, Timothy Young, has avoid prison but has been fined £120 after admitting stealing more than £60 worth of groceries from The Little Cow Shed in Havenstreet last month. Young, 56, of Spring Gardens in Ventnor, appeared at the Isle of Wight Magistrates Court this morning (Friday) charged with a single count of theft from a shop. The court heard that on 22nd February the owner of the premises noticed some foodstuffs – namely a KitKat and a milkshake – on the floor outside the honesty shop. Upon reviewing CCTV after making the discovery, Young was captured entering the shed and grabbing a bread container. The career criminal then proceeded to fill it with over £60 worth of goods including semi-skimmed and whole milk, bread, coke, butter, chocolate bars, ice cream, yoghurt and milkshakes. The box all the goods were placed in was also stolen. The 56-year-old ignored signage inside the premises telling him that CCTV was in operation and even looked straight at the camera as he took the goods. The incident initially prompted controversy as Police said they wouldn’t investigate the matter, according to those behind the honesty store, before then arresting Young later in the week. In Police interview Young told Police he had put £20 in the honesty box, but it turned out he had only put in some shrapnel – nowhere near enough to cover the cost of the goods he stole. Defending, Michael McGoldrick told the court that the crime was ‘opportunistic’ and that Young felt ‘bad’ for committing the act after seeing his photo circulating all over social media, adding that he attempted to contact The Little Cow Shed but couldn’t get through. Young has appeared on Island Echo on numerous occasions including back in August 2021 when he was convicted of theft from a shop in Shanklin after the shopkeeper noticed a bulge in his pockets. In July last year, Young was sentenced to 22 weeks in prison for assault and driving offences. The 56-year-old has an extensive criminal record with more than 32 convictions to his name, the earliest of which began back in the 80s. Magistrates fined Young £120 and ordered him to pay compensation of £61.90. He was also ordered to pay costs of £85 and a £48 surcharge fee.