A man once jailed after his grandmother shopped him to police for stealing and crashing her mobility car is back behind bars after attacking a man in Greggs.
Sean Charles was still on licence from a 20-month sentence imposed last year when he assaulted a member of the public while stealing food from the Canterbury bakery.
The 38-year-old, who has more than 33 previous offences, was originally jailed after stealing his cancer-suffering grandmother’s mobility vehicle, which was later found abandoned and badly damaged following a crash in Ashford.
She told police she believed he was responsible, which led to his arrest.
That sentence, imposed at Canterbury Crown Court in June last year, also covered a series of other offences, including assault on an emergency worker, drink-driving, criminal damage, two counts of driving without a licence and two of driving without insurance.
After being released early on licence, Charles reoffended and was recalled to prison for 28 days, before being released again.
On December 30, Charles entered the Greggs branch in Canterbury high street and selected freshly prepared savouries before trying to leave without paying.
The court heard a bakery worker retrieved the items, but a member of the public intervened as Charles tried to leave.
Julie Farbrace, prosecuting, said: “It was caught on CCTV and there was a tussle with fists, and the victim was pushed into the drinks fridge.”
Later that day, after the incident was reported, Charles was found in another shop in the city. As a police officer attempted to arrest him, he kicked out.
The prosecutor said: “It connected with his right shin, but there was no injury.
“In interview, he made no comment, but pleads guilty today.”
Charles, of no fixed address, admitted shoplifting, common assault and assault on an emergency worker when he appeared before magistrates in Margate the following day.
Magistrates were told he was being recalled to prison again as a result of committing the new offences.
Jon Service, defending, said: “Every time he is released, there is no support, so there is reoffending.
“I am not going to mitigate for him as he wants to go to prison for longer, as he’s more likely to get accommodation.
“He was on licence, and there are previous convictions, but there is nothing more I can add.”
Because Charles was already being recalled to prison for a further 28 days, magistrates decided not to impose an additional jail term for the new offences.
Instead, he was fined £75 for assaulting an emergency worker and ordered to pay £50 compensation to the member of the public he assaulted.
He received no separate penalty for the theft from Greggs and will begin paying court fines at £20 a month after his release.
