---

CABLE THIEF JAILED AFTER MISSING COURT MEETINGS

A Bristol thief who stole copper cables from a British Telecom depot has been jailed for a year after breaching his suspended sentence.Gary Kiernan, of Hopewell Gardens, Lawrence Weston, stole the cables in Bath and was followed back to Bristol by police.

The 38-year-old, who admitted the theft, told officers he was going to sell the copper for scrap.

At Bristol Crown Court, in July, the defendant was handed a 42-week prison sentence, which was suspended for 18 months, with a supervision requirement and orders to carry out 120 hours' community service.

He breached the sentence by failing to turn up to two work and supervision appointments and returned to the court yesterday to be jailed.
"He said he intended to sell the copper for scrap," said Mr Normington. He said Kiernan was in trouble with police again on Monday this week when he swiped eight Cadbury dairy milk bars from the Co-op store in Avonmouth.

The defendant was spotted pocketing the bars and was stopped by police in nearby Collins Street. He admitted the theft immediately.

Rupert Lowe, in mitigation, said his client's suspended prison sentence "went wrong" when he was kicked out of home by his wife.

He said Kiernan accepted that his suspended sentence would be activated. Jailing Kiernan for one year, including 10 weeks for the theft of the chocolate, Judge David Ticehurst said: "It seems you will continue to commit petty offences and continue to be caught and continue to go to prison for longer and longer periods."

---

Heh.  That'd be a week and a bit per bar.  Most people worry about it going to their hips.  Anyway...  the dumb people of Bristol strike again.  I'm proud to be a fellow resident.  Hoorah!