A Newport man has been sentenced to nearly a year in custody after pleading guilty to a string of offences targeting supermarkets across the city.
Matthew Jones, 43, of Chepstow Road, admitted multiple charges of theft and burglary when he came before Newport Magistrates’ Court.
The burglary
The most serious offence took place on April 16 at the Asda Express store on Chepstow Road. Jones entered a staffroom within the premises and stole cigarettes and tobacco worth approximately £250.
The thefts
On three separate occasions, Jones targeted both Asda and Tesco stores in Newport.
The largest single theft occurred on June 12, when he took “perishable goods” and staff uniforms valued at around £2,000 from an Asda Express branch.
He also stole deodorant and washing detergent totalling £200 from a Tesco Express on April 27, and food and household goods worth £29.50 from another Tesco store in November last year.
Sentencing
Magistrates found the offences were “so serious that only a custodial sentence could be justified,” pointing to the “volume of offending” and the defendant’s existing criminal record.
With credit given for his guilty pleas, Jones was sentenced to a total of 50 weeks’ imprisonment.
Bartosz Piasta represented the defendant, with Andrew Cooper-Gadd prosecuting.
