A well-known “persistent and prolific” shoplifter stole thousands of pounds worth of alcohol and perfume in a series of raids at shops in west and south Wales.
During one of the thefts, Robinson helped himself to 54 bottles of Jack Daniel’s whiskey, 20 bottles of Champagne, and 10 bottles of vodka.
Swansea Crown Court heard the 51-year-old defendant has 124 previous offences on his record, including 95 thefts. Sending Robinson down, a judge told him it was time for stores to be rid of him for a significant time.
Cailtin Brazel, prosecuting, told the court the spree of offending began on July 13 last year when Robinson walked into the Tesco supermarket in Pembroke Dock with two large bags which he filled with 16 bottles of alcohol, including whiskey, brandy, vodka, and Champagne before leaving without paying.
The total value of the stolen goods was £463.
The court then heard that 11 days later Robinson walked into a Tesco supermarket in Aberystwyth, again with two large bags, and stole 54 bottles of Jack Daniel’s whiskey, 20 bottles of Champagne, and 10 bottles of vodka from the shelves. The total value of the goods taken on that occasion was £3,566. The prosecutor said the defendant returned to the same shop some 20 minutes later and stole another £2,000 worth of alcohol.
The court heard that Robinson was recognised from CCTV footage by a police officer who had previously dealt with him and was arrested and taken to Cardigan police station.
However, he became “obstructive and aggressive” in the cells and refused to be interviewed. He was subsequently charged with three counts of theft from a shop and was bailed, but he failed to turn up to court and was convicted in his absence. A warrant was issued for his arrest.
The court heard heard Robinson’s offending then moved to Bridgend and on December 18 the defendant stole fragrances and cosmetics to the value of £2,777 from the Boots shop in the town’s Caroline Street He was arrested later that same day after returning to the shop and once again proceeding to full his bags with items. The court heard he was interviewed the following day, but again was obstructive and aggressive to officers.
Robinson, of Heol Calfin, Ravenhill, Swansea, had previously been convicted at trial of three counts of theft from a shop and had pleaded guilty to one count of the same when he appeared in the dock for sentencing.
He has 67 previous convictions for 124 offences, including 95 theft matters. At the time of the spree, he was subject to a suspended sentence for an offence of shoplifting.
Alexandra Wilson, for Robinson, said the defendant still denies he committed the Pembroke Dock and Aberystwyth thefts.
She said the defendant lived in council-provided accommodation in the Ravenhill area of Swansea, which had been specially adapted to take account of his health needs, and she said he was fearful of losing a home which had been a place of safety for him were he to receive an immediate custodial sentence.
Judge Huw Rees described Robinson as a “persistent and prolific offender” who had been given an opportunity by the courts in July 2023 when handed a suspended prison sentence, but who had gone on to commit further like offences. He said: “The time has come for shops and stores to be rid of you for a significant period of time”.
Robinson was sentenced to two years in prison for each of the west Wales thefts and to 16 months for the Bridgend offending all to run concurrently one with the other and the judge activated three months of the previously-imposed suspended sentence to run consecutively to the two years making an overall sentence of two years and three months.
The defendant will serve up to half that sentence in custody before being released on licence to serve the remainder in the community.
[Lead image: South Wales Police]
