Abusive Quadring roofer stole items from Spalding Poundstretcher store to fund heroin habit

A roofer who abused staff and stole groceries from a Poundstretcher store to feed his heroin habit has been warned he could face jail if he doesn’t stay out of trouble.

Quadring resident Anthony Taylor has since quit the drug but magistrates told him he ‘could be going to prison’ if he breaches a new community order.

The 31-year-old had previously denied charges of theft and breaching a criminal behaviour order, but changed his pleas to guilty ahead of trial.

He also admitted a further theft charge when he appeared before Boston magistrates on Wednesday (January 29).

Prosecutor Lottie Tyler told the court that the 31-year-old entered Spalding’s Poundstretcher store - where he was known to staff - at 4.10pm on November 18, becoming ‘aggressive’ towards one employee.

“As she approached him he got in her face and said ‘f***ing following me around when there are rat kids putting things in their pockets - what are you doing about that?’,” she said.

“He then concealed items in his his jacket - dog and cat food to the value of £36.84 - and left without paying.

“Twenty minutes later her returned and took men’s care products.”

Ms Tyler added Taylor returned to the store a third time on that day where he paid for a packet of cigarette papers and a bag for life, questioning the price by saying ‘surely not f***ing £1.70?’

The following day Taylor returned to the Holland Market store where he pulled the bag for life from his pocket, filled it with food items worth £24.93 and again left without paying, the court was told.

At the time of these incidents Taylor was subject to a criminal behaviour order, which included the stipulation he must not cause alarm or distress, Ms Tyler added.

A probation report stated that when Taylor committed these crimes he had ‘fallen off’ his methadone prescription and was ‘back using heroin and needed to fund his habit’.

The report added the defendant was now back on his prescription and ‘no-longer using heroin’.

It also stated he suffered from ADHD and mental health ussies.

Defending himself, Taylor, a part-time roofer who receives Universal Credit, said he was feeling ‘good’ after quitting the drug.

Taylor, of Main Road, Quadring, was handed a 12-month community order, including 20 rehabilitation activity requirement days.

He must also carry out 80 hours of unpaid work and pay Poundstretcher £61.77 in compensation.