Ely shoplifter jailed

An opportunist shoplifter who stole to fund his drug habit has been jailed.

Robert Wesley, 38, of Christopher Tye Close, Ely, took meat, fruit and small kitchen appliances from stores between 8 August and 23 November.

He targeted BP garages in Wisbech Road and Witchford Road, Ely, Co-Op in St Mary’s Street, Ely and Sainsbury’s in Lisle Lane, Ely.

On 6 August Wesley was pulled over by police in his Kia Stonic on the A14 near Fen Ditton and provided a positive drugs test for cocaine.

He gave an evidential blood sample, which later showed no less than 800 micrograms of benzoylecgonine present in a litre of blood (ug/L).

Benzoylecgonine is the main metabolite of cocaine, which is formed in the body after cocaine consumption – the legal limit is 50 ug/L.

It also showed a reading of 12 micrograms of cocaine – the legal limit is 10ug/L.

At Cambridge Magistrates’ Court on Friday (15 December), Wesley was sentenced to 26 weeks in prison after pleading guilty to 18 counts of theft, making off without payment, assault by beating, common assault, failing to surrender to police/court bail and drug driving. He was also disqualified from driving for three years.

PC Oliver Taylor said: “Wesley openly admits he has been stealing to fund his drug habit. We hope losing his driving licence and landing himself a prison sentence will give him the motivation to turn his life around.”