An asylum seeker has been ordered to pay £400 after shoplifting more than £550 worth of products in a UK town. Diari Ibrahim, 39, who is from Iraq, appeared at Basildon Magistrates’ Court via video link from HMP Chelmsford on Wednesday after stealing items from Boots, a BP garage, Savers, JD Sports and Quality Savers in the Essex town, such as cans of Red Bull and Fairy washing pods, in the spring and summer of this year. The total value of items taken was £553.83.
Court details and offences
Prosecuting counsel Bernadette Danagher said the offender, who appeared on camera bald, bearded and wearing a light-coloured t-shirt, made “no attempt to pay for them” and rode away on his bike. On one occasion, police were browsing in the same store and were alerted by a member of staff. Later, he was detained by cops after again being challenged by shop workers.
The offences were aggravated by 10 previous convictions, Ms Danagher added, several for theft. Defence counsel Mark Jerman admitted the offences are aggravated also by the fact they were committed while Ibrahim was on bail.
Defence arguments
He raised his arrival in the UK from the Middle East and the fact that his asylum claim has not been processed yet, calling it a “fragile situation”. Mr Jerman also told the court that Ibrahim used crack cocaine and heroin, emphasising that it was “the reason behind the offending”.
He added that while Ibrahim has been in custody for just under three weeks, which has been “punishment before sentence”, he has been on a methadone programme in relation to his heroin usage. Moreover, Mr Jerman said Ibrahim has “very limited financial means”, living on “something like £49 a week” from the Government.
Imposing a community order would be “appropriate”, he suggested to magistrates, but the defendant should not be made to do unpaid work as he is “not allowed to work” and it would be “setting him up to fail”. Ibrahim's issues would be “better managed in the community”, Mr Jerman suggested.
Sentence and payment
Magistrates said that his offences were serious enough for a community order for 12 months, but this “may end earlier”. He was also told to complete 30 days of rehabilitation activity.
In addition, Ibrahim was given a collection order to pay £20 a month, £5 a week, in compensation to the firms he stole from, the first payment being taken on September 16.
