Wrexham man stole from Tesco, Sainsburys and Boots

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A MAN who stole items from multiple stores was ‘desperate for money’, a court has heard.

Ashley Busch, of West Circle in Wrexham, appeared at Wrexham Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday to be sentenced.

The 35-year-old had admitted four counts of theft at an earlier hearing.

Prosecutor Rhian Jackson told the court how, on May 31 this year, Busch set off security alarms as he left the Sainsburys store in Plas Coch Retail Park.

When CCTV footage was reviewed it was discovered he had taken two bottles of whiskey worth £37 each and failed to pay for them.

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On the same day he went to the One Below store in Regent Street and stole a fan worth £15.

This object was recovered, but the accused fled.

The next breach took place on June 8 when he stashed just under £50 worth of razor blades in his top at Boots on Plas Coch Retail Park and left the store with them.

The next day he left Tesco in Crescent Road with £90 worth of electric toothbrushes hidden in his jacket.

Police arrested him a few days later and in an interview he told officers he had had problems with his benefits and had a heroin addiction.

Wrexham Magistrates’ Court

He fully admitted to all four offenses and told police he used the money generated to “get by”.

Busch said he stole the razor blades because he had no electricity at home and was “desperate for the money”.

Ms Jackson said her record showed 77 violations, more than 20 of which related to theft.

The court heard there was another theft offense committed by Busch at Tesco on June 10, which he admitted to, but the court was asked to allow that case to be considered rather than condemned separately.

Steven Alis, defending, said that since he started using heroin, his client has been stealing to feed his habit.

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He said Busch was “enthusiastic” about getting involved with the probation service and wanted to get rid of drug addiction.

The court issued a community order for six months, with a requirement for drug rehabilitation for the same period.

Busch must pay total compensation of £364.98 to cover his two flights at Tesco, one at Boots and one at Sainsburys.

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