Serial Shiney Row Thief Given Suspended Sentence After Targeting Local Pub and Sainsbury’s
A prolific thief from Shiney Row has avoided immediate jail time after committing a series of thefts, including stealing from his local pub and a supermarket.
Anthony Richmond, 38, of Beatrice Terrace, was handed a 12-week suspended prison sentence at South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court after pleading guilty to multiple offences.
On January 9, Richmond entered the Shoulder of Mutton pub—located near his home—where he stole a member of staff’s purse and phone, later found in his possession along with £195 in cash.
Less than two weeks later, Richmond and an accomplice stole £472 worth of alcohol from the Sainsbury’s store at the Galleries, Washington, fleeing through a fire exit with a trolley. He returned alone on January 28, attempting to steal over £1,000 of alcohol, but was stopped before escaping.
The court heard Richmond has 86 previous convictions from 217 offences, with 96 related to theft.
In mitigation, his solicitor Ben Hurst said Richmond had recently found employment and was attempting to turn his life around, adding that the thefts were committed during a period of drug misuse and financial hardship.
Magistrates described Richmond’s record as “terrible,” but suspended the sentence for nine months, allowing him to continue rehabilitation. He was also ordered to complete a nine-month drug rehabilitation programme and pay £236 compensation to Sainsbury’s.
