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04
Jul
Ripon man admits string of alcohol thefts across Harrogate
A man pleaded guilty to a string of alcohol thefts at Harrogate Magistrates Court on Thursday (July 3).
Daniel Wilson, of Hutton Grove in Ripon, admitted three counts of theft from a shop.
Mel Ibbotson, prosecuting, told the court Wilson entered the Co-op on Bilton Lane on December 28 last year.
He stole a crate of lager from the store, before returning the following day to steal a crate of cider.
The total value of the stolen goods, which were not recovered, amounted to £24.
Wilson was identified through CCTV at the time.
The court heard the 33-year-old defendant entered Sainsbury’s Local on Cambridge Street shortly before 4pm on May 1 this year.
He stole a crate of Stella Artois valued at £12, but was later identified through CCTV.
The stolen goods were not recovered.
Ms Ibbotson said Wilson has a record of similar offending and, by committing the theft in May, was in breach of a conditional discharge imposed earlier this year.
'His mental health has deteriorated'
Faryal Akhtar, defending, told the court Wilson is currently unemployed but used to work as a chef.
He was signed off work as he “snapped his ankle and it never recovered”.
However, Wilson has since struggled to find work and eventually turned to alcohol to cope.
“His health is not great. He says he just sits at home due to not working and his mental health has deteriorated”, Ms Akhtar said.
The court heard Wilson “can’t understand his own actions at times” and recognises his drinking is an issue that needs to be addressed.
Ms Akhtar also said Wilson has two job interviews lined up and intends to contact North Yorkshire Horizons – a drug and alcohol addiction service – for help.
She told the magistrates:
Maybe he will change but only time will tell. Maybe you could give him that opportunity today.
Sentence
The chair of the magistrates’ bench told Wilson:
Your offending is low level, but it is constant.
The magistrates decided to impose a deferred sentence, which means a defendant is sentenced six months later.
The defendant must satisfy conditions set by the magistrates in that time to determine the level of the sentence imposed and, if the defendant offends again in that time or fails to satisfy the conditions, they can be brought back to court sooner and face a greater sentence.
The court heard the sentencing bench will review Wilson's behaviour at the time and, if he has not committed any further offences in the six-month period, he could receive a lower sentence.
Defendants must consent to a deferred sentence, which Wilson did.
Wilson was ordered to engage with North Yorkshire Horizons to address his alcohol misuse in the meantime and must provide the court with a report from Horizons to confirm his engagement.
According to the sentencing council, the purpose of a deferred sentence is to enable the court to have regard for the offender’s conduct after conviction or any changes in their circumstances, such as complying with the set conditions.
The magistrates deferred Wilson’s sentencing hearing until January 16, 2026, when he will return to Harrogate Magistrates Court.
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