Bath magistrates have jailed a “professional criminal” for a total of 50 weeks for his latest string of offences in the city.
The Co-op on Julian Road in Bath
Jonathan Peacock, 49, appeared in custody at the court on Monday 20th April to plead guilty to five charges.
On 15th March, by entering the Co-op at Burlington Place on Julian Road without reasonable excuse and stealing goods, he was in breach of a criminal behaviour order (CBO) made by Bristol magistrates just the day before.
He stole items of a value unknown from the store on that day, then on 24th March at Sainsbury’s in Green Park he stole goods worth £102.
On 9th April at St Swithin’s Place he attempted to enter a vehicle which he was prohibited from doing by a CBO made by Bristol magistrates on 14th March. On 18th April at Charlotte Street Car Park he broke into a vehicle, again in breach of the CBO.
Duty solicitor Mark O’Donnell told the court that Peacock, formerly of Bath but now living in Banwell in North Somerset, had told him he has been a class A drug addict for 20 years but has recently managed to get himself clean. However, Mr O’Donnell said Peacock has a “chaotic lifestyle” and had messed up sorting his benefits.
Mr O’Donnell suggested that the court might give Peacock the opportunity to prove he can comply with a community order involving a drug rehabilitation requirement (DRR).
But after deliberating, magistrates said the offences were so serious that only a custodial sentence could be justified.
They cited Peacock’s “flagrant disregard” for court orders, for people and their property, “the number and nature of the offences shows that the defendant is operating as a professional criminal”, and because he offended during the operational period of a suspended sentence.
Peacock was also ordered to pay £102 compensation to Sainsbury’s.
