Unemployed alcoholic stole cider on same day he appeared in court

Friday 18 November 2016

A thirty year-old man has admitted stealing cider from a St Helier shop just hours after he was in court charged with a completely separate offence.

When Craig Grant Milon appeared in court this week to admit the theft, Magistrate Peter Harris said: “I can’t see how someone can leave court in the morning and steal alcohol in the afternoon.”

The Magistrate’s Court yesterday heard Centenier Philip Coffey outline the case, saying: “The defendant was bailed on Tuesday but despite that, on the same day at 18:15 he went to Tesco Alliance in York Street. A shop assistant saw him enter the store and walk towards the beer fridge. He picked up a case of 15 bottles of cider and noticed the shop assistant looking at him so he put the case back down.

“The shop assistant was aware of Milon entering stores and stealing things so requested help from the store supervisor. The defendant backed into another case and they fell to the floor, so he picked up some undamaged bottles and left the store.

“He was arrested outside the hospital and admitted taking five bottles of cider worth £22.95.”

The Centenier opposed bail on the basis that Milon was likely to commit further offences.

Defending Advocate Lorraine McClure said: “The defendant is a struggling alcoholic and wishes to go on a detoxification programme. Put simply he went into the store to obtain alcohol and it was a stupid thing to do. He wants to detox and get better.

“He is by trade a landscape gardener and is looking for work.”

Magistrate Harris said: “You have previous convictions in May, June and August and an allegation of assault in July and clearly you have many previous convictions in recent times. There is a real risk that if you are granted bail you will commit further offences.

“My decision to refuse you bail is so that you can start detoxification and because of the risk of further offences.”

Milon said: “I purposely stole alcohol because I want to start detoxification and I want to start it straight away. I know that sounds a bit odd but that’s what I want to do now.”   

Bail was refused and Milon was remanded in custody until his next court appearance on December 13th.