A Pembroke man with an extensive history of shoplifting has been sent to jail again after admitting stealing a teacher’s handbag from a school classroom.
Thirty-nine-year-old Luke Brummit, in custody, appeared at Haverfordwest Magistrates Court, on Tuesday, to plead guilty to the offence, which took place on Monday.
Prosecutor Vaughan Pritchard-Jones told the court that it was a ‘nasty, mean little crime’ where Mr. Brummitt had gone to his child’s school and whilst there, stolen the teacher’s handbag that he had seen hanging on a hook in the classroom.
The handbag was traced nearby as there was an iPhone inside and the owner had a tracking device app installed.
The value of the bag and its contents, including cash, amounted to £200, the court heard.
“Looking at Mr. Brummitt’s previous convictions, you may well be sending him straight to prison,” Mr. Pritchard-Jones told magistrates.
Defence solicitor Jonathan Webb told the court that it was essentially a ‘desperate crime’ committed by a ‘desperate man’.
“Mr. Brummitt had recently been released from custody and was penniless as his benefits had been stopped. This was an act of desperation, he saw the handbag and the temptation was there to take it.
“He is ashamed and remorseful for taking the teacher’s handbag from their place of work,” added Mr. Webb.
Magistrates gave Mr. Brummitt a custodial sentence of 20 weeks and ordered him to pay a victim surcharge of £115.