A drug-addicted sneak thief who snatched handbags from Bristol bars has been jailed. Lloyd Withers, who has some 200 previous offences for theft and fraud, was on licence when he pilfered the bags as well as items from shops.
The 48-year-old, of Brentry Farm, Brentry, admitted breaching a Criminal Behaviour Order, fraud, and theft. He told Bristol Crown Court prison time would be preferrable to tackle addiction, rather than his being released and using drugs again.
Judge William Hart jailed him for two years. He told Withers: "The modus operandum was to steal largely handbags or items of value in this sneaky, determined, pre-meditated way in breach of a Criminal Behaviour Order."
READ NEXT: Montpelier man jailed for violent disorder after Bristol riot
Emilene Davis, prosecuting, said Withers' spree of offending in March started with him stealing £392 worth of goods from B&Q in Longwell Green. Two days later he entered The Bell bar in Hillgrove Street and grabbed a phone and purse from a handbag, and used a woman's Monzo bank card to immediately spend £170 - after which her card was frozen and she was refunded.
Miss Davis said Withers went on to steal £353 worth of goods from B&Q in Patchway. He followed that by going to The Canteen in Stokes Croft and stealing a handbag containing an Apple MacBook Air, ear pods, sunglasses, car keys and sunglasses valued at £3,350.
Some 15 days later Withers entered The Botanist bar in Berkeley Square and stole a handbag worth £2,000, complete with a phone and bank cards which he used to spend £172 on goods from Tesco in Clifton Village.
Jennifer Stetson, defending, said: "He is entirely realistic about the sentence that must be passed today. In the past he would have tried to press upon me that he must be released as soon as possible.
"But he tells me he is finally feeling he can remain abstinent from drugs. If released today he would question his ability to stay clean."
Sign up for our new Bristol's Court Insider newsletter for the latest court and crime news - from arrests to trials and sentencings
READ NEXT:
