A SERIAL shoplifter who repeatedly targeted a Carlisle Poundland store with his partner stole because he needed to raise cash to buy food, a court heard.

Even though his partner was jailed for the same thefts at the St Nicholas Gate store in the city during April and May, magistrates spared 40-year-old Paul Elliott from custody after he said he was 'disgusted' with himself.

The defendant, of St John’s Court, Carlisle, admitted eight thefts – seven at the St Nicholas Gate store and a further one at the Poundland on Scotch Street, Carlisle.

Elliott and his partner, 31-year-old Corinna Kirkpatrick, adopted the same approach to their stealing on every occasion, targeting detergents and laundry products. The first of the thefts was on April 9 and the last on May 1.

Prosecutor Pam Ward said CCTV images of the couple’s theft on April 30 showed them cramming a shopping trolley full of laundry products and then leaving without making any attempt to pay.

The total value of the eight thefts was almost £600, the court heard. Elliott was convicted of thefts earlier this year, on March 13 and then on April 14.

Addressing magistrates from the dock of the court, the defendant said: “I’ve made some mistakes in my life. I broke my neck and my life went downhill from then on.

“My partner has been in trouble over the years but my life spiralled out of control after my accident. I’m trying to engage with Recovery Steps to sort out my problems because I turned to drugs after the accident.

“I’m disgusted with myself.”

Asked directly by the presiding magistrate if he was currently using drugs, Elliott replied: “Yes.”

But he added that he rarely used alcohol. He said that he had lost his home due to his accident.

He was now living with his partner at her flat in Carlisle. Elliott added: “I’m sorry for my actions. I let myself down.”

A Probation officer who spoke to Elliott told magistrates: "It was purely financial: he was basically stealing goods to pay for food, and not necessarily for drugs."

The officer said Elliott was unsuitable for unpaid work because of his drug addiction and nor could he be subjected a curfew because his partner was the tenant of the flat they shared and had not authorised this.

The officer added: “There have been domestic violence call outs between her and Elliott.”

She was also soon to apply for "home detention" so she can be released from jail early and she would prefer Elliott not to be curfewed there.

After his prosecution for shoplifting in March, a defence lawyer said Elliott ran out of cash because his benefits were stopped - a sanction imposed because he inadvertently missed appointments with officials.

For his latest offending, magistrates gave Elliott a 12-month community order with 10 rehabilitation activity days. He must also pay compensation of £299 to Poundland, as well as £85 costs and a £95 victim surcharge.

At an earlier hearing, Kirkpatrick was given 27 weeks custody after she also admitted the same eight thefts.

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