Kevin Bennett (Image: Gwent Police)
Last Updated: 1 minute ago
A 48-year-old man who has amassed 88 previous convictions spanning 223 offences has been sentenced to 12 months in prison after committing nine crimes in a single day across Cwmbran and Pontypool.
Recorder Christian Jowett handed Kevin Bennett, of Hillside Avenue, Blaenavon, a six-month sentence for the latest offending, plus a consecutive six months for breaching a suspended prison sentence. He will serve no more than half the total term in custody and must pay a victim surcharge upon release.
The offences
Cardiff Crown Court heard that Bennett carried out all nine offences on February 25. He broke into a garage at a family home and took bicycles, attempted to gain entry to other properties by trying door handles, stole a handbag from a vehicle and then used bank cards taken from it to purchase alcohol.
Prosecutor Tabitha Walker told the court that the crimes were committed shortly after Bennett had received an eight-month suspended prison sentence for theft-related offences, including attempted shoplifting.
An off-duty police officer caught Bennett, leading to his arrest. He gave a no comment interview to detectives.
Impact on victims
One of those targeted described feeling “uncomfortable after someone rifled through my personal belongings.”
Another said the offending had caused them to suffer from “anxiety and stress”.
Previous record
Miss Walker outlined Bennett’s extensive criminal history, telling the court that 85 of his 223 prior offences were for “theft or kindred offences” and a further six were for fraud.
Mitigation
Bennett pleaded guilty to burglary, attempted burglary, vehicle interference and fraud. His barrister, Sol Hartley, asked Recorder Jowett to apply the appropriate 25 per cent discount for the guilty pleas.
Mr Hartley told the court his client had a “long-standing drug addiction” which he was attempting to overcome, and that Bennett had been working in the prison kitchen since being remanded into custody. The defence made no application for a pre-sentence report, accepting that an immediate custodial sentence was inevitable.
