A former mechanic turned to drugs and crime after arsenic poisoning changed his life. Prolific shoplifter Imtiaz Fazal from Newport was back in court last week after his latest spree.
Prosecutor Dave Thomas told Newport Magistrates' Court that Fazal stole £32.50 worth of chocolate from a Sainsbury's in the city on November 26 followed by 10 Lynx deodorant sprays worth £37.50 from Boots on December 8 and then £33 worth of Ferrero Rocher chocolate from Poundland on December 10.
Mr Thomas said the 37-year-old has "many" offences on his record. Only five days before the Sainsbury's theft he had received an eight-week suspended prison sentence for shoplifting. The court heard he has had "quite a number of suspended sentences over the years".
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Fazal admitted the three latest thefts as well as twice failing to attend court in recent weeks. A probation officer told the court: "He has shown a total lack of engagement and a persistent number of reportable incidents during the probation support he is currently receiving."
Lydia Williams, mitigating, said: "For many years he was a mechanic. He travelled to Pakistan in 2014 and sustained arsenic poisoning which left him in hospital for six months. The repercussions have stayed with him to this day. He is not well enough to work."
Arsenic was commonly used in taxidermy, paint, wallpaper, face powders and cleaning products in centuries gone by. It is now known to be extremely dangerous.
Ms Williams said her client has been stealing low-value goods to fund a long-term crack cocaine habit. She believes his failure to attend probation appointments and court dates are due to his "chaotic lifestyle" and his homelessness. "There was a three-year period when he refrained from offending. He very much puts that period away from drug use down to stability and staying away from bad peers. He is very keen to sort out his accommodation again. He is in very poor mental and physical health."
Ms Williams said another issue is that there is no widely available substitute for crack cocaine – as opposed to treatment for heroin users which often includes prescriptions such as methadone – and that Fazal's support has instead been in the form of "talking therapy". She called for District Judge Sophie Toms to spare him immediate custody.
But the judge told Fazal: "You have been given every opportunity to rid yourself of this addiction or obtain some help from probation. Not only have you failed to attend appointments – you have committed three offences of theft and two offences against the Bail Act by failing to come to court. You have a terrible record."
Judge Toms jailed Fazal for 40 weeks. He must pay £70 in compensation to shops he targeted. You can read more of the latest Welsh court news here.
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