A “PRESENT-day Fagin” who used children to steal from shops across the south-west has been jailed.
Bradley Trott, 32, travelled from town to town robbing thousands of pounds worth of toys and food items.
AlamyThe city of Bath in Somerset which Trott targeted[/caption]
Trott sitting outside Bristol magistrates court where he was jailed for theft
Fagin from the movie Oliver! who sent out children to steal for himAlamy
He got one child to help him pick up Lego boxes worth £922.50 and sometimes took a group of kids with him to steal meat, cheese and other items.
You have every appearance of being a present-day Fagin.
A judge likened him to the character Fagin from Charles Dickens’ classic novel Oliver Twist who sent out children to pickpocket for him.
District Judge Lynne Matthews said: “You have every appearance of being a present-day Fagin.
“You have been taking children into stores and getting them to help you steal goods to fund your habit.
“My view is that you pose a risk to children and it’s very likely you will commit further offences.”
Bristol magistrates heard he travelled around Bristol, Bath, Radstock and Glastonbury in Somerset on a thieving spree during January of this year.
Trott, of Bristol, admitted five charges of theft and one of attempted theft – and all bar one offence involved at least one male child, who helped stash the stolen goods.
He was jailed for 26 weeks.
He also admitted driving a VW Golf high on cocaine and not having insurance.
He is disqualified from driving for 21 months, which includes his prison sentence.
The court heard he had a “decent family background” and started using substances at the age of 17.
He was previously sentenced on January 29 for theft and given a community order, which tried to address his drug issues.
DJ Matthews said the community order was not working and that children were “actively used to facilitate” the offences was an aggravating factor – so he was given his first prison sentence.
Trott was also ordered to pay a statutory surcharge of £187 on his release.
Google MapsBristol magistrates court[/caption] Published: [#item_custom_pubDate]
