Serial shoplifter Warren Russell, who has a mammoth 159 theft offences on his criminal record, has been handed a 10-month prison sentence after his latest string of dishonesty offences.
Russell, 41, of HMP Isle of Wight but formerly of High Street in Ventnor, previously admitted a host of dishonesty offences, public order offences and several order breaches when he appeared at the Isle of Wight Magistrates Court back in June.
Prosecutor Tim Devlin explained at that hearing that Russell stole £475 worth of goods from several retailers and supermarkets in including TK Maxx, Peacocks, Tesco, Co-op and Marks and Spencer.
Among the things taken were various food items, men’s razors, lamb joints and trainers.
On one occasion, in a shop in Shanklin, Russell was approached by a shop worker upon his entry to the shop. When he was asked to show them the inside of his rucksack, he called them a ‘fat c**t’. The court heard how Russell also shouted expletives towards another shop worker.
The majority of Russell’s offending was caught on in-store CCTV cameras.
Russell, who has a whopping 74 convictions for 231 offences, was also found to be breaching a Criminal Behaviour Order by entering stores with a face covering and rucksack.
At the most recent court hearing, defence solicitor Jonathan Underhill admitted that his client had an appalling criminal record and that it was indicative of someone who has an underlying drug problem.
Mr Underhill added that Russell had made attempts to get his life back on track when he was living in Gosport earlier this year, but soon found himself back on the Island, where he was reintroduced to other drug users.
Handing down his sentence, Judge James Newton-Price said that it was ‘sad to see’ an offender ‘caught in a rut of offending’ and that he hoped Russell could make some progress upon his release.
Russell was handed a 10-month prison sentence. Upon leaving the dock, he gave Judge Newton-Price a thumbs-up.
Despite his significant offending, Warren Russell’s custody photo has never been released – until now. Island Echo made a special request to Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary for Russell’s mugshot to be made public, despite this latest conviction not meeting the strict 12-month prison sentence requirement. An exception was sought with an argument of the prevention and detection of crime and helping to instil confidence in the criminal justice system.
I feel sorry for the shop workers they don’t need or
deserve the unnesseccary hassle.
I am surprised shops don’t employ decent security staff,
also better technology.
When inside many shops you can forever hear
bleepers going off.
Cheeky sausage!
It’s nothing to do with drugs, he’s just an absolute nasty piece of work. I went to school with Warren from the age of about 7 to 16, and he was always bad news, threatening, hitting, and bullying people for no reason.
I’m glad I remembered him and found at as an adult he is a pathetic serial shoplifter who can’t even look after himself. Ha ha!
Of course his lawyer will argue it’s all down to drugs, but it’s not. He was always like that. Clearly the prison sentences are not working. Bring back the stocks, or workhouses or something.