Man with 85 convictions given probability to repair ‘chaotic life-style’ after stealing Yankee candles from Tesco in Cheriton, Folkestone

A prolific shoplifter who has greater than 85 convictions to his title has been given an opportunity to kick his drug habit and type his life out.

A court docket heard homeless Kurtis Tipton, who hails from the Folkestone space, had forgotten a few valuable sentencing listening to due to his “chaotic lifestyle”.

The 55-year-old, who’s hooked on Class A substances, has been shoplifting and committing different offences for years and has beforehand been jailed.

Tipton, of no fastened tackle, was hauled earlier than the court docket on October 20. He had failed to point out up for an earlier listening to when he was as a result of be sentenced over three issues – two counts of possession of Class A and B medicine and one shoplifting offence.

He had admitted the offences in September, when the case was adjourned for a pre-sentence report back to be accomplished. He was as a result of return on October 10 however failed to seem. A warrant was then issued for his arrest.

Lewis Holloway, defending, informed the bench his shopper had forgotten in regards to the sentencing listening to due to his “chaotic lifestyle”.

As a consequence, magistrates determined to not pursue the failure to give up to custody cost and that cost was not put to him whereas he was within the dock.

Julie Farbrace, prosecuting, stated Tipton initially admitted three of the offences in September. She then outlined all the fees.

“On September 8, he went into the Tesco store in Cheriton and filled a trolley with five Yankee candles, which cost £17 each and made no attempt to pay,” Ms Farbrace stated.

The court docket heard Tipton was challenged as he left the shop and one candle was recovered, however he managed to depart with the opposite 4, valued at £85.

When he was arrested on September 26, he was discovered with 4.3 grams of cocaine and 1.6 grams of amphetamine.

The prosecutor added: “He pleaded guilty to the offences on the first opportunity.”

She then informed magistrates in regards to the new cost Tipton had dedicated, which he pleaded responsible to whereas within the dock.

Ms Farbrace added: “On October 7, he went into the BP petrol station in Cheriton High Street and selected some meat products of an unknown value and put them in a bag and left without making any attempt to pay.

“He was located for the warrant and the new offence on October 18 in Sandgate.

“He has previous convictions, and number 85 was dealt with on August 29 when he got a community order and rehabilitation sessions.”

Tipton was beforehand jailed in January 2024 after stealing greater than £1,000 price of things from a number of retailers in Folkestone and handed a two-year Criminal Behaviour Order banning him from shops he focused.

A probation officer confirmed that Tipton was complying with the neighborhood order he had been given in August.

Mr Holloway, defending, stated: “He would benefit from a drug rehabilitation programme and is already on rehabilitation days with probation.”

The bench determined to position him on one other 12-month neighborhood order for all 4 offences.

The order will see him full a drug rehabilitation requirement for six months. He should pay Tesco £85 compensation for the candles.

They additionally ordered that the medicine be destroyed.

The chairman of the bench added: “We are pleased you are seeing probation and it’s good stuff they can offer you. Carry on with that and do the rehabilitation days.”