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Bristol Post
Bristol Post
National
Geoffrey Bennett

Convicted burglar due for release must stay in prison

A happy Christmas has been cancelled for a man who burgled a shop.

Brian Smith was due to be released from a 30 months prison sentence on December 18 after a conviction for a commercial break-in.

But the 40-year-old, of no fixed abode, admitted a raid on Manor Food Stores in Easton and has been given a further 15 months inside.

Judge Julian Lambert told him: "You have 24 court appearances for 84 offences, and recently a commercial burglary.

"Now you have to be sentenced for the night-time burglary of a shop."

Grace Flynn, prosecuting, told Bristol Crown Court the shop was broken into around 4am in the early hours of January 18 last year.

Shop owner Sakhi Nasir viewed his CCTV and saw two men break in, the court heard.

After forcing the shutter with a crowbar they helped themselves to £1,410 in cash and £4,000 worth of cigarettes.

Police were able to identify Smith from the footage and he was arrested, but made no comment when interviewed.

Mr Nasir made a statement saying the burglary had put a strain on his finances.

He added that he was not covered by insurance as he did not have a burglar alarm at the time.

Giles Tippett, defending, handed the judge a letter of apology from his client.

Mr Tippett said: "There was some planning but not a great deal.

"They saw this as a shop which they might be able to get into.

"Cigarettes were targeted."

The court heard that, at the time, Smith had distanced himself from the support of his family, which led to his committing offences to support drug addiction and living costs.

Mr Tippett said: "He's been in and out of prison and he's tired of the life now."

 
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