Thief who stole from East Cambridgeshire shops to fund drug habit is jailed

A thief who stole to fund his drug habit has been jailed after targeting shops across Ely, Littleport and Burwell.

Michael King, 43, of no fixed address, stole meat, fruit, cheese and alcohol as well as small kitchen appliances including a toaster and slow cooker between June 19 and October 10.

He stole from the Co-Op in Burwell, BP in Ely and Littleport, Specsavers in Ely and Sainsbury’s in Ely.

He was also arrested on August 6 for possession of a wooden baton.

King was sentenced to 34 weeks in prison by Cambridge magistrates on December 12, after previously pleading guilty to 10 counts of theft, possession of an offensive weapon in a public place and two counts of possession of cannabis.

PC Kyle Marsden, who investigated, said: “King openly admits he steals to fund his drug habit and has pledged to turn his life around following this latest spell of offending. We hope this is the case, not only for his own health and wellbeing, but also for those who work in or shop at the businesses he has targeted over the past six months.”