A FORMER "professional criminal" going straight for the first time in his life stole a power tool as he was quoting for building work in Kidderminster in a "moment of madness", a court heard.
Frank Wilde, 34,a father-of-three, of Lyndon Close, Sedgley, Dudley, admitted theft of an angle grinder worth £650 from a builder's van outside a cottage on the A442 in Cutnall Green on July 15.
He was given nine months' jail, suspended for two years, and ordered to do a total of 200 hours unpaid work in the community when he appeared for sentencing at Worcester Crown Court.
Wilde, who was already in breach of a 12-month suspended jail sentence for handling stolen goods, was also ordered to pay £340 court costs.
Jason Aris, prosecuting, said Wilde had 69 previous offences, spread over 18 years, many of which were connected with motoring, although 13 were for dishonesty.
A witness alerted police after seeing him take the angle grinder and Wilde told police the theft was committed in a "moment of madness", when he was quoting for building work in Kidderminster and had stopped in Cutnall Green to ask for directions.
James Bruce, defending, said Wilde had been a professional criminal but now had job prospects and was "going straight for the first time in his life".
The theft of the tool had been an "unplanned, unsophisticated, snatch" at a time when money was tight and his family was facing eviction from their home by the local council.
Mr Bruce added Wilde now had a property renovation job.
Recorder Adrian Redgrave QC told Wilde: "You know just how mean it is to steal somebody else's tools" but he added that he had been persuaded to suspend his prison sentence.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article