Consumed Leeds crack-addict dad stole from shops to feed spiralling habit
A desperate drug-addicted dad who spent every penny he had on crack cocaine has been jailed for thieving spree from shops.
Father-of-four Christopher Richardson was even left living in a tent because of his all-consuming craving for the drug.
The 40-year-old was jailed at Leeds Crown Court this week after admitting a string of theft offences.
This included stealing a record player from Menkind at Sheffield’s Meadowhall in March last year, and at the White Rose Shopping Centre, he stole £140 worth of items from Yankee Candle and Clintons.
Then in July, he entered Waterstones on Albion Street in Leeds twice, stealing £53 worth of Lego and £120 of household items.
He admitted the thefts, and also breach of a previous suspended sentence and a failure to attend court.
Richardson, of no fixed address, appeared in court from HMP Leeds where he was being held on remand.
He has 20 previous convictions for 36 offences.
Mitigating, Gabrielle Wilks said that Richardson had endured his drug addiction for years “spending all the money he had”.
She added: “It would occupy his thoughts and he would be unable to resist the urge.
“Having been remanded since last year he does not have that same urge that he previously had.”
Judge Mushtaq Khokhar told Richardson: “You are getting on a bit to be committing these offences on a regular basis.”
He told Richardson that he had “led a charmed life” in terms of court appearances, because he had largely kept out of prison with community punishments, but added: “Sadly, it has not worked.”
He jailed him for 20 months in total.