A man caught stealing from a football changing room has been branded a "mean little sneak thief" by a judge.
Andrew Samson has been given a curfew to keep him away from changing rooms at weekends and bank holidays.
Samson, 21, of Forest Park Avenue, Clacton, managed to steal five separate amounts of money totalling £298 from a changing room at the Little Clacton playing field before he was challenged by a footballer and left.
Apart from the money, he also stole a distinctive lighter which police found on him later when he was arrested, Chelmsford Crown Court heard on Friday
Samson admitted a charge of burglary and was told to repay the money he stole. He was also given a two-year community rehabilitation order and Judge Chris Ball QC imposed a weekend curfew from 9am until 9pm on Saturdays, Sundays and bank holidays.
"There's a risk of you offending at weekends when public changing rooms, clubs and playing fields are being used, so there will be a curfew when you must be at your address," Judge Ball told Samson.
"My instinct is to simply lock you up because that is the only way to be sure you won't go back to stealing in this petty way.
"But I can't lock you up for long enough to offer any long-term protection to people who like to go out on Saturdays and Sundays to play football," the judge said.
The court heard Samson was seen at the changing rooms at Plough Corner on March 10 last year. It was later discovered he had stolen £50, £100, £18, £50 and £80 from players using the room and a distinctive lighter was also taken.
Andrew Shaw, prosecuting, said Samson had made 17 previous court appearances for 43 offences, including theft and burglary.
Peter Fenn, mitigating, said Samson was depressed and on medication but there were signs he was improving.
Judge Ball told Samson: "From your record, it's plain you are someone who has a dishonest and mean streak. When you were discovered stealing from that changing room you did everything you could to avoid owning up to what you were caught doing red-handed.
"You were behaving like a mean little sneak thief and did not have the courage to admit it."
Published Monday, January 27, 2003
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