Bath magistrates have issued a warrant without bail for a 41-year-old man who failed to turn up at court for sentencing for a series of shop thefts in the city.
Benjamin Bennett, of no fixed address, had been due to attend court on Wednesday 28th January.
He had admitted four thefts at a court appearance on 11th December when the magistrates had adjourned the case for the Probation Service to prepare a pre-sentence report.
Bennett was then caught shoplifting just four days later.
At Sainsbury’s at Odd Down on 1st and 8th December he stole items of unknown value. Then on 9th December, he stole vodka worth £297 from the store.
On the same day, he stole items of an unknown value from Tesco on Wellsway.
The four thefts were said to be jointly committed with another defendant.
On 15th December, Bennett went into the Co-op on Wellsway with another and stole items worth £159, admitting his guilt in court the following day when the matter was adjourned to tie up with the other thefts.
The court heard last Wednesday that Bennett had not complied with the Probation Service, so there was no report for them to read to determine what sentence would be appropriate.
With no contact from the defendant to explain his absence, the magistrates issued the warrant not backed by bail.
