Drug-troubled Sheffield thief caught with knuckle duster

Lewis Ryan Jones, 28, of Croydon Street, Sharrow, stole bottle of spirits from a Tesco Express on December 2 and was found to have an offensive weapon, according to a Sheffield Magistrates’ Court hearing which was held at Sheffield Crown Court on December 4 due to cold cells.

Rob Coyne, prosecuting, said: “The defendant was at Tesco Express, on Saville Street, in Sheffield, and was seen in possession of spirits and he also had bulging pockets and for this reason he was stopped.

“Police recovered from him bottles of spirits valued at £134 and while he was detained he was found to have in his possession a set of keys attached to which was what he said was a key ring but it turned out to be a knuckle duster.”

Jones pleaded guilty to theft, possessing an offensive weapon, breaching a community order for failing to attend appointments and to breaching a conditional discharge which had been imposed for stealing a bicycle.

Rose McAdam, defending, said Jones had dipped due to child custody proceedngs and had stopped taking heroin substitute methadone and had lapsed into taking drugs.

District Judge Naomi Redhouse sentenced Jones to a 12 month community order with a Rehabilitation Activity Requirement and a Drug Rehabilitation Requrement.

She urged Jones to make “little changes that could lead to bigger changes”.

Jones was also ordered to pay a £90 victim surcharge and £85 costs.