Toothless bald shoplifter stole hair and dental products (From Falmouth Packet)

Toothless bald shoplifter stole hair and dental products

7:00am Friday 18th January 2013 in News By Greg Fountain, Reporter/Photographer

A “perpetual” shoplifter stole a toothbrush and hair grooming products despite having little hair and very few teeth, a court heard.

Carl Sean Vincent Ascott, of Carvolth, Praze, pleaded guilty to three counts of theft at Truro Magistrates’ Court on Thursday.

The 40-year-old, described by prosecutor Anita Kennett as a “perpetual thief and drug user,” could not remember committing the crimes but admitted to them anyway, she said.

Two further guilty pleas, one for theft and one for cannabis possession, were also taken into consideration.

Paul Gallagher, for the defence, said that at the time of the offences Ascott was homeless, drinking heavily and taking drugs.

But “a couple of months ago he seems to have thought ‘I have had enough of that now’,” he said.

Now living in a farm “in the middle of nowhere,” Ascott has cut all ties with his former associates and is seeking drug rehabilitation.

“A couple of years ago he was quite happy to sit on the street corner drinking his cans of lager and taking his drugs,” Mr Gallagher said.

“But now he’s somebody who wants to sort himself out. He’s committed to that.”

The magistrates rejected Mr Gallagher’s suggestion that they defer sentencing until after Ascott’s spell in rehabilitation.

Chairman John Chandler said they considered Ascott’s criminal record as “very serious” and “not acceptable” for a deferred sentence.

Ascott was made subject to an eight-week prison sentence suspended for 12 months.

He was also ordered to pay £181.41 compensation and £85 costs, to be deducted from his benefits payments.