A prolific burglar who smashed in the windows of the Ryde Iceland store back in February and went on to racially abuse a woman in March has been ordered to pay compensation and has also been handed an 18-month community order.
Josef Wilkins, 22, of Pellhurst Road in Ryde pleaded guilty to attempted burglary other than dwelling with intent, possession of a knife in a public place, using threatening language or behaviour to cause fear of/provoke lawful violence and racially aggravated harassment by words when he appeared at the Isle of Wight Magistrates Court earlier today (Friday).
The charge of burglary other than dwelling with intent was put to Wilkins under a different name as he previously identified as a female called Jade. In today’s hearing he requested to be known as Josef though.
Liz Miller, prosecuting, told the court that on 2nd February, Police received reports of someone smashing the window of Ryde’s Iceland store with a wooden post. Police arrived on the scene to find the post left in the road and visible damage on the front windows of the supermarket.
It didn’t take long for them to establish – after watching the CCTV – that it was indeed Wilkins who committed the offences in attempts to steal some alcohol.
Then on 21st March, whilst at his home address, a drunken Wilkins shouted at a female worker telling her to ‘go back to your own country you black ****’. The court heard how this exchange made the woman feel threatened and scared to go to work.
On 31st March, whilst Wilkins was at the Premier Inn hotel in Sandown, he became aggressive towards a member of staff after he refused to pay for his meal. Having been told to leave, Wilkins became more agitated telling the member of staff ‘I’ll punch your lights out if you don’t give me back my stuff’.
Police were called to the scene and when arresting Wilkins, they found a small stanley knife in his possession.
Wilkins was jailed for 6 months back in November 2022 after he went on a spate of burglaries simply because he was bored.
Defending, Jim Osborne told the court that as a result of his actions Wilkins’ accommodation was now untenable and that his actions were almost always fuelled by his alcohol consumption. He also added that Wilkins – who has severe learning difficulties – wasn’t able to manage his finances properly and that when he gets paid he goes on a bender.
A report read out by Probation stated that the alcohol abstinence requirement on Wilkins’ existing community order hadn’t gone well, adding that if he were given a custodial sentence it would have a detrimental effect on his wellbeing.
Wilkins’ community order was revoked and resentenced. He was issued a new 18-month order with 30 rehabilitation days and a 9 month alcohol treatment requirement attached.
He was ordered to pay Iceland compensation of £1,700.
Obviously not too learning disabled to be able to target specific shops for alcohol and be able to identify racial features so as to target abuse.
People in life make unwise choices, it just chooses alcohol.
Custody would give it boundaries and structure and in all probability would be quite helpful for this numskull.
numskull.. How rude
Terry who drinks sherry
Little known that he was let out after a week of that “6 month sentence” he did in November. Absolute joke he needs locking up. He’ll only do it again and again and again without remorse
He has no money to pay compensation, as unable to budget and goes on benders and probably needs supported living and claims PIP and UC and legal aid, he is ruining others lives – cheapest option and safest would be prison if not sure we will hear in Court again soon.
And housing benefit, and council tax credit, and free prescriptions, etc., etc. What do lowlives such as these cost us all? Rehab doesn’t come free either.
Ship him out to Ukraine as cannon fodder
We know nothing about him, his upbring, his life before this report. Maybe it was a call out for help.
His family are actually genuinely lovely people – just a shame he isn’t
The best course of action would be to put him down. And do the disgrace of a magistrate at the same time.
You lose your moral high ground when you say revolting things like that. To be honest it makes you no better. I’ve reported your comment.
Oh boo boo. Looks like you are going to have a lot of comments to “report” then aren’t you. If you can stop wringing your hands long enough.
What is sadly happening to this beautiful island.
I’m confused he her identifies as a total social Security scrounger ?
What ?
Has anyone actually thought why this kid is doing this? Locking him up is a temporary solution and it does offer the rest of us protection while he’s locked up but he’ll come out and pick up where he left off. In this case the magistrates made the right choice but it’ll only work if someone can get him to open up. Confronting and dealing with his own demons provides a route to a more productive and happy life. He’s too young to be yet another statistic.
He does it because he knows he can get away with it
cheapest option, put him down, waster
Another pathetic sentence, the compensation will be paid by the taxpayers as usual as he is unemployable, he has had his chances and now should be put in jail, you never know a lengthy stay in jail could help him stop his alcohol abuse.
Easy solution – it’s a small island. If you have a shop, ban him from it. If you have rental property or a B&B that the council uses, exclude him from it. Don’t sell him alcohol. When he wants an ambulance in the future send a police car with them.
We should make it harder for people like this who don’t want to be part of society, not easier.
No photo of this scumbag then?
Oi boon head what are you going to do