A homeless man who resorted to crime to fund his ‘dysfunctional’ lifestyle has been locked up after carrying out a string of offences over a two-week period.
Steven Renwick’s latest crime spree started on October 28 when he, along with two others, tried to smash their way into Angel’s Cut bar and bottle shop on Duke Street in Darlington.
His reign of burglaries, thefts and attempted burglaries came to an end when he was arrested in Darlington Borough Council’s town hall on October 13 this year.
Kelly Sherif, prosecuting, said during his spree the defendant attempted to smash his way into Millets in Darlington town centre; broke into Farm Foods on Neasham Road and stole five packs of Lurpak butter; stole a bike from outside Darlington College; broke into Pizza Box on Northgate and stole £80 from the till; and stole the till from Pizza Master on Cockerton Green before being chased down the street by the business owner.
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She added: “When he was arrested in the town hall he said – ‘If they helped me in the first place I wouldn’t have to go out and commit crime, would I’.”
Teesside Crown Court heard how Renwick had 13 convictions for 31 previous offences, including ones for dishonesty and possession of a knife.
Renwick, of no fixed abode, but from the Darlington area, pleaded guilty to three burglaries, two attempted burglaries, theft and possession of a knife.
Emma Williams, mitigating, said her client had been made homeless in January when he was kicked out of a bail hostel when his sentence expired.
She said he had resorted to ‘sofa surfing’ before turning to crime to make ends meet and that he carried the knife for his own protection.
She added: “He said he acted in this way because he wanted to survive.”
Judge Jonathan Carroll sentenced Renwick to a total of 18 months for all offences.
He said: “These offences occurred out of your circumstances of homelessness, taking drugs, leaving on the streets, associating with other people and in effect trying to gain funds to continue your dysfunctional, broke life.
“But it has a profound impact on the communities that you were living within. These were all businesses providing services, trying to make an honest living, employing people and giving them the opportunity to stand on their own two feet.
“You are aware that we are going into a cost-of-living crisis and those jobs are extremely precious. Your behaviour is having a direct impact on those people doing their level best to get through the challenges ahead.”
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