Thief with 72 previous convictions is jailed for stealing razor blades

A prolific thief with 72 previous convictions for dishonesty has been jailed after he stole £202 worth of razor blades from a Boots store.
Pictured is serial thief William Smith, 42, of no fixed abode, who has been jailed for 18 weeks after he stole razor blades from a Boots store, on Low Pavement, in Chesterfield.Pictured is serial thief William Smith, 42, of no fixed abode, who has been jailed for 18 weeks after he stole razor blades from a Boots store, on Low Pavement, in Chesterfield.
Pictured is serial thief William Smith, 42, of no fixed abode, who has been jailed for 18 weeks after he stole razor blades from a Boots store, on Low Pavement, in Chesterfield.

Chesterfield magistrates’ court heard on July 25 how William Smith, 42, of no fixed abode, struck at the Boots store on Low Pavements, at Chesterfield, on July 11.

Prosecuting solicitor Becky Allsop said: “Smith was seen on CCTV to take razor blades valued at £202 and he was not stopped and the property was not recovered.”

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Smith was later arrested, according to the court, and made no comment in a police interview on July 24.

Mrs Allsop added that Smith has an unenviable criminal record with 72 theft and kindred offences to his name.

The court heard that Smith was still on licence at the time of the Boots theft after he had been released from custody in October, last year, and would be subject to being recalled into custody.

Smith pleaded guilty to the theft.

Defence solicitor John Wilford said Smith’s life is chaotic and he is in a depressing situation.

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Mr Wilford claimed there had been difficulties with the probation officer he should have been seeing after his release from custody because they were either ill or unavailable and he relapsed into drug addiction.

Magistrates sentenced Smith to 18 weeks of custody and ordered him to pay £202 in compensation.