Magistrates jail 39-year-old man for 18 weeks for string of offences

A man was jailed last week for a total of 18 weeks for shoplifting in Bath and flouting court orders.

In June, we reported that James Sowerby had admitted a series of shoplifting offences and been granted bail by Bath magistrates with a Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) put in place banning him from Primark, M&S, Waitrose, Sainsbury’s in both Dorchester Street and Monmouth Street, Tesco in Stall Street and Co-op at Widcombe Hill.

Sowerby had also admitted an assault on a security guard at Waitrose and that he had been in breach of a conditional discharge.

At the time, magistrates requested a pre-sentence report and ordered Sowerby to return to court on 3rd September when they would decide what action to take.

But the 39-year-old, of no fixed address, was brought before them in custody on Thursday 14th August for more thefts, including one the previous day at the Co-op in Mount Road where he admitted stealing items worth £372.60.

Magistrates also heard that he had failed to engage with the Probation Service, as he had been told.

Duty solicitor Rachel Tiley told the court that until a year ago, Sowerby’s life had been stable. He had his own business, a partner and child.

But “everything fell apart for him”. His relationship broke down, his employment ended and he came to Bath in February. “Things went from bad to worse” and he became homeless and started committing offences after having had a gap of not offending since 2014.

She said Sowerby was “ashamed” and apologised. She said he was prepared to engage with the Probation Service if given one more chance to do so.

However, the probation officer in court confirmed said that Sowerby had missed three appointments and the service was not in a position to offer a fourth.

Magistrates jailed Sowerby due to the nature and seriousness of the offences, his spree of offending, committed whilst on conditional discharge and on bail, and his failure to comply with the Probation Service in the preparation of a report.

They also ordered him to pay compensation of almost £1,000 to the shops he stole from, which will be payable on his release.

“To protect shopkeepers”, they said Sowerby must abide by an exclusion zone when he is released.

He will also be supervised in the community for up to 12 months.

Sowerby meanwhile has denied two assaults on a woman in Bath, one alleged to have taken place on 7th August and the other on Tuesday, 12th August.

He will face a trial at Bath Magistrates’ Court on 1st October.