Bristol man jailed after admitting breaching Asbo by entering Neath town centre

A MAN who was banned from entering Neath town centre has been jailed after admitting stealing from a shop.

Peter Wyn Jones, was given an antisocial behaviour order (Asbo) in 2004, banning him from entering the town centre.

Jones, 40, admitted breaching the order after he went into the Aberafan Shopping Centre on December 8 and took men's razors worth £578.42 from Wilkinsons.

He also admitted a second charge of theft after he stole a handbag containing £30 cash.on December 19.

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Prosecutor Laura Carthew told Swansea Magistrates' Court the handbag belonged Christine Parkhouse, who lives in Forge Road, Port Talbot.

Jones was later identified on CCTV as the man who took the razors after he was arrested for taking the handbag.

Jones admitted both offences in his police interview and admitted he had breached his Asbo.

The court was told he was on licence during both offences as he had been released from terms in prison on December 3 and 12.

Swansea magistrates ordered a pre-sentence report.

Solicitor Chris Cormack, representing Jones, asked magistrates not to jail him but to impose a community sentence to allow him to get help. "There is a huge cost to the public purse for incarcerating someone for weeks or months but then same problems remain," he said.

Problems

He said his client did have mental health issues and said he needed help to address his problems.

"I'd ask you to look at the larger picture and how is the public protected best," said Mr Cormack.

Sentencing him, chairman of the bench Phil Llewellyn said: "We think these offences cross the custody threshold because they were committed while you were on licence and while you were bound by the constraints of an Asbo.

"We note from the probation report that you know right from wrong but show no victim empathy or remorse."

Jones was given three-month terms for each offence of theft, which will run concurrently.

A further four-month sentence was added for breach of the Asbo, which will run consecutively, making a total sentence of seven months.

Jones, now of Stoke Gifford in Bristol, was also ordered to pay £60 compensation to Mrs Parkhouse, whose bag was not recovered.