A prolific crook who was allowed to keep his freedom earlier this year despite having 337 convictions to his name has now been caught stealing.
As previously reported on Chroniclelive, Craig Nicholson was a patient at Newcastle's Royal Victoria Infirmary but was found by a nurse to be carrying a 10inch knife. In April, the 43-year-old was given a final chance by a judge at Newcastle Crown Court to stay out of trouble when he was handed a 21-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, for possessing a bladed article.
But the career criminal, who has been committing offences for more than 20 years and has an appalling record that stretches to at least 56 pages on the police national computer, proved he's not yet ready to change his spots when he was caught stealing goods from Tesco and Boots.
Read More: Passenger fined after being found with baseball bat down trousers at Byker Metro Station
A court was told that Nicholson targeted the two stores on October 17 and October 29 this year, helping himself to a total of £222.89-worth of items, including make-up, toothbrushes, toothpaste, meat and booze. Both offences took place at the Tesco and Boots stores in Jesmond.
Now, Nicholson, of Avenue Road, in Saltwell, Gateshead, is facing serving the whole of his 21-month original prison sentence plus extra for his latest offending after he pleaded guilty to two counts of shop theft at Newcastle Magistrates' Court.
Prosecutor, Claire Armstrong, said Nicholson entered Boots on October 17 and made-off with 12 foundations, a toothbrush and some toothpaste, worth £178. He then went into Tesco on October 29 and stole four joints of pork and two cans of Jack Daniels and coke, worth £44.89. He was identified and later arrested.
Miss Armstrong added: "The defendant's got 168 past convictions for 337 offences, including 195 for theft. There was a community order in place until November 5 this year, so that was in place at the time of these offences. In April 2022, the defendant was also given a suspended sentence for 24 months, that was put in place by Newcastle Crown Court and was in place at the time of these offences."
Miss Armstrong said that, because Nicholson was in breach of a crown court suspended sentence and any breaches had been reserved to the sentencing judge, the case should be sent to Newcastle Crown Court.
Andy O'Hanlon, defending, agreed, adding: "He is finally responding to help after a lifetime of not responding. He is responding to Probation and the community order."
Magistrates agreed and released Nicholson on unconditional bail to be sentenced at Newcastle Crown Court next month.
Read Next
-
Benton pervert avoids jail after secretly filming woman whilst they were having sex
-
Cowgate brute threatened to 'do a Raoul Moat' if he was jailed for strangling and assaulting partner
-
John Henry Sayers admits illegally driving van with daughter sitting on passenger's knee
-
Fenham takeaway owner in court accused of leaving customer with 'lasting' hearing damage
-
Northumberland mum who sneaked drugs into prison now caught stealing biscuits from supermarket
