A drug addict swiped a university student’s bag - which contained her laptop - from the staff room at her workplace in the weeks leading up to her exams.
Simon Livesey, 41, was seen on CCTV walking into Sostrene Grene on Cross Street, Manchester, before leaving with the bag over his shoulder.
The bag contained a Dell laptop worth £668; a laptop case; and the student’s purse, which held her driving licence, debit card and bus pass, Manchester Crown Court heard.
The young woman only noticed the bag was missing when she went on a break.
She had to work extra hours to cover the cost of the laptop.
Livesey, of Butler Street, Ancoats, pleaded guilty to a non-dwelling burglary charge. He was jailed for 22 months.
Prosecutor Haseeb Yousaf told the court that on January 8, the young woman arrived at work at 3pm, left her bag in the staff room and started work.
“She asked a colleague to cover her for a bit as she needed to go for a toilet break and that’s when she noticed her bag was missing,” Mr Yousaf said.
“She spoke to her manager about it and they viewed the CCTV. From that they saw a male walking outside of the store carrying her shoulder bag.
“They reported it to the police and an image of the defendant was circulated around the police and he was later identified by some patrolling officers.”
The goods stolen were worth a total of £740.
Livesey has previous convictions for dishonesty and burglary.
In statement read to the court, the student said: "I am a university student and have had to work extra hard to cover the cost.
“It’s caused me difficulties in terms of access to facilities as I have had to go to uni extra early due to a limited number of computers.
“It has been more inconvenient as it happened at a time when exams were taking place.”
Livesey was on a suspended sentence order for another burglary last Ocotber.
Defence lawyer Michael Johnson said his client has been affected by drugs for many years - and that ‘underpins’ his offending.
“He says that when he was released from prison, he was going to pick up a prescription for methadone, but due to the lateness of the evening, a doctor omitted to signing the prescription,” Mr Johnson said.
“He didn’t receive anything for the rest of the weekend and unfortunately quickly fell back into drug-related chaos.
“He acknowledges that this young lady who lost her laptop will be significantly affected.
“It’s unfortunate for him that she was a student who had to take part time work to get herself through the course and the laptop was an essential item being used in the furtherance of her studies.
"He is ashamed of himself and acknowledges and accepts that this was selfish and mean offending.
“He has been in custody since March 12 and has re-engaged in the appropriate course of medicine and is in a better place physically and mentally.
“He is sober and has the opportunity to reflect on how mean this was.”
Sentencing him, Judge Suzanne Goddard QC said: “You have been given many chances by the court to respond to non-custodial sentences, you have largely failed in relation to your offences in court.
“You made your way into the staff area and you stole the handbag of a university student who was trying to make an honest living to supplement herself.
“Can you imagine the panic as a student getting ready to take their exams?
“You have been addicted to drugs for year on year - it’s about time you had the gumption to help yourself.
“You have a family of your own - what sort of example are you setting there?
“I don’t have any sympathy for you.
“It’s about time at the age of 41 you started to take control of your own life.”
