A rough sleeper in Spalding has been told by a magistrate to turn his life around and seek help, or he could lose his life as a result of drug abuse.
At Boston Magistrates’ Court last week Adam Beeson (32) admitted three counts of stealing laundry items from Savers in Sheep Market on April 18, 21 and May 26. He also admitted one count of theft from the Original Factory Shop on May 10 and a charge of being in possession of a knife.
The court was told Beeson was caught on CCTV each time and had intended to sell the stolen items to buy food.
The three-inch lock knife was found on him after police were called to a separate incident in Hall Place in Spalding at 11.10pm on July 18.
He told police he had the knife to open food packaging.
Beeson also took lighter fluid from the Original Factory Shop in Spalding on May 10.
Shelley Wilson, prosecuting, told the hearing that he had numerous other charges of theft and one of possessing a weapon.
The court was told that Beeson acknowledged he needed to seek medical help for anxiety, depression due to infected ulcers on his leg where he’d injected heroin.
He was given a prison sentence of six months suspended for 12 months and ordered to complete a drug rehabilitation course.
He was also ordered to pay £133 compensation to Savers and £12 to the Original Factory Shop while an order was made to forfeit and destroy the knife.
Mitigating for Beeson, Michele Cheatle said: “He tells me he wants to get clean and he’s started on methadone.
“He feels he is reaching a turning point and he has a meeting arranged with a supportive housing group.”
The court was told Beeson started using heroin after his dad died from a sepsis infection when he was 21.
Chairman of the Bench Robert Skinner told him: “We appreciate the explanation you put forward as to why you have that knife. Nevertheless in the eyes of the law its a bladed article in a public place and we see many incidents involving them including where people have tragically lost their lives.
“It’s a suspended sentence as we believe you have the chance to try and break this circle of drug use that at the age of 32 has blighted your life. You are never going to have a decent life without sorting it.
“We’ve heard about how your dad died of sepsis and If you don’t get your leg sorted out it could happen to you too.”
