Man, 46, in court for 32nd time given chance to go straight
A MAN making his 32nd court appearance for offences of dishonesty has been given a chance to go straight.
Crown Prosecution Service prosecutor David Gittins said Roger Ball was tempted when he saw a woman's bag left unattended on a bus.
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Plymouth crown court
He stole her electronic car key and her mobile phone, using it to rack up £60-worth of premium-rate calls in an hour.
Mr Gittins said the incident happened on a bus to Derriford around 5pm on May 12 last year.
Ball, 46, was identified from CCTV.
Total loss to the victim was £196.14, but Ball had voluntarily repaid £180 to the woman from his benefits, he said.
Mr Gittins said Ball had served several jail terms for offences including theft, burglary, false representation and handling stolen goods.
Ali Rafati, for Ball, said the police had offered to deal with the matter themselves if Ball returned the key and phone and paid for the calls, but he was unable to get the key back.
He was taking part in a 3.5-mile charity swim at the end of the year, sponsored by Hamoaze House.
Judge Francis Gilbert QC told Ball, of Calder Close, Efford: "You are a thoroughly dishonest pest, as the facts of this case demonstrate.
"You have caused this woman great inconvenience, and if I sent you to prison today for 12 months you'd have no cause for complaint."
But Judge Gilbert said that as Ball had admitted theft and was making efforts to make good the loss, he would suspend the 12-month sentence for two years and impose an 8pm-6am daily curfew for the next three months.
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by MickBarb
Sunday, February 12 2012, 10:25PM
“Quote-"he saw a woman's bag left unattended on a bus"-unquote
More fool her.”
by Bavaria
Sunday, February 12 2012, 6:20PM
“Joke.
Lock him up.
What do you think Judge???”
by realist1955
Sunday, February 12 2012, 12:04PM
“bring back hanging ,yet another chance to reoffend,total sick joke”
by Thornbackray
Sunday, February 12 2012, 1:48AM
“Does anyone who goes in front of Judge Gilbert get an easy time, it paints the wrong message”
by JayUK84
Saturday, February 11 2012, 11:41PM
“So "given chance to go straight" = "Get's off scott free"”
by headhunter267
Saturday, February 11 2012, 1:18PM
“Nick113.
Pretty much I think. Saves the cost of an investigation,Police time, cost of prosecution and lets be honest, if a victim gets their stuff back, that's more than they will get from the courts! It's all about money, ain't a damn thing funny.................”
by BrixhamDes
Saturday, February 11 2012, 12:36PM
“This was an "Opportunistic Theft" It would never have happened if it hadn't been for the victim's own stupidity, leaving her bag on display and not keeping an eye on it. I commend Justice Gilbert in having the sense NOT to send Roger to Prison for a year. It would have cost £40,000 of Public money all for the sake of £16.40. At least she got most of her money back, I didn't get a penny when I was robbed, due to my own stupidity (uninsured) and complacency, thinking " It'll never happen to me!" I do believe in Karma so perhaps someone will let the air out of Rogers Armbands when he is doing his Charity swim?????”
by mcspredder
Saturday, February 11 2012, 11:20AM
“And we should respect the justice system??”
by nick113
Saturday, February 11 2012, 11:01AM
“It reads as if the cops were willing to not charge him if he gave all the stuff back. Is that how it works these days - if you give it back you are let off?”
by headhunter267
Saturday, February 11 2012, 10:51AM
“I can't believe the word t**d (that rhymes with word) is not allowed!!”