A prolific shoplifter from Bristol has been jailed for 37 weeks.

A prolific shoplifter who has stolen goods including chocolate eggs, wine and baby milk, has been jailed for 37 weeks.

 

Mitchell Rogers, 35, of Church Street, Easton, in Bristol, had 52 convictions for shoplifting on record.

 

His latest spate included 11 incidents during March and April – with 9 thefts from a Tesco Express and two from a Sainsbury’s petrol station, worth over £900.

 

He appeared at Bristol Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday (April 22) after he was caught on CCTV and pleaded guilty to the charges.

 

The court heard he had drug difficulties and had relapsed after an ex partner, whom he had a ‘volatile’ relationship with, had got back in touch.

 

He returned to the same stores and the goods have not been recovered.

 

His suspended sentences from his court appearances in January and February were activated, totalling 15 weeks, with another 22 weeks added from his new offences. He was also ordered to pay compensation on his release.

A MAN rang the police repeatedly saying he had a gun and would shoot someone – after his partner and carer was arrested – on suspicion of assaulting him, a court heard.

 

Shaun Long, 40, from Bristol rang 999 repeatedly and said his partner was in police custody but he had not assaulted him.

 

Long, from Callington Road, Brislington, told a call handler it was ‘a matter of grave urgency, you’re going to be killed’.

 

 

 

 

When asked who would be killed, he rambled and said he had a gun and ‘would shoot someone very shortly’, Bristol Magistrates’ Court was told.

 

Prosecuting, Jemma Morgan said: “The caller asked him to stay online but he ended the call.”

 

He later told police he was not going to shoot anyone and the call handler was lying.

 

In mitigation, Ian Kelcey, of Kelcey and Hall, said: “This is a very vulnerable individual with severe mental health issues.”

 

He added Long was frustrated that his partner, who was also his carer, had been arrested and his calls were rambling and did not make sense.

 

He said Long had suffered a facial injury and police were concerned it was caused by his partner.

 

The court heard Long, who had received a community order in January for assaulting an emergency worker, had not been in court for 10 years prior to 2020.

 

Long’s probation officer said he had engaged well with the order and had struggles, including a brain injury, epilepsy and mental health concerns.

 

Long, who pleaded guilty, had been on a waiting list for adult social care.

 

The court ordered to revoke and resentence his 12- month community order, which is expected to end on April 21 next year.

A man drove up to 100 mph and on the wrong side of the road in a 30 mph zone during a police chase – before hitting a wall and running off, a court heard.

 

Kamar Brown, 22, from Bristol, was blasted as a ‘complete idiot’ by the presiding justice at Bristol Magistrates’ Court for driving dangerously and failing to stop for police.

 

He was driving a black BMW M3 with a passenger and hit a Royal Legion building in Kingswood.

 

The airbag went off and he ran from the scene but was later identified and admitted to driving the vehicle, which he had borrowed from a friend and insured.

 

The court heard Brown, of Lodge Hill, Speedwell, panicked because he was previously discharged for possession of cannabis in 2022.

 

The court was told he regretted his actions on December 28, 2024, and his pregnant girlfriend was due to give birth in June, and he would have to provide.

 

In sentencing, presiding justice Gail Bragg said: “In video games, driving at 100 mph is quite fun. If driving in real life, it means you could kill someone.

 

“If you’re lucky, it could be you. If you’re not, it could be someone else.

 

“I can’t believe how horrifying your driving was that day. You’re a complete idiot for driving like that.”

 

But she said he had a ‘realistic prospect of rehabilitation’.

 

He was given a 32week suspended sentence, ordered to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work and disqualified from driving for a year. He was also ordered to pay a £187 surcharge and £85 in prosecution costs.

 

Read more of our from Bristol and beyond at Bristol News https://directlocalbristol.co.uk/bristol-news/