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Greggs bakery in Aldershot
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Stolen sandwich proves costly for Greggs thief

By Laura Nightingale
July 05, 2010

IT worked out to be an expensive lunch for a young man who stole a sandwich from a high street bakery.

Liam Gillani, 23, pleaded guilty to stealing a £2.20 sandwich from Greggs bakery in Aldershot and ended up paying 30 times the price as a result of his offence.

Appearing at Aldershot Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, June 24, prosecutor Fiona McMurray said the excuse Gillani gave for stealing the goods was because he was hungry and had no money.

Ms McMurray said: “On June 15, you stole a sandwich from the bakers and used threatening words and behaviour.

“You were seen on Rushmoor CCTV footage and the manager then called the police and officers followed you to an alcove near Marks & Spencer.

“When the officers caught up with you and saw you eating the sandwich, you swore to the police community support officers and called them 'toy coppers'.”

Representing the defendant, of Arthur Street, Aldershot, Paul Wright said: “He used to be involved in much more serious crime but since he came out of prison in 2006 he has tried to get back on track and is doing quite well.

“He knows this was a silly, foolish and unpleasant event and accepts he cannot just go around taking sandwiches from shops.”

The court heard that Gillani had been studying at college, training to become a barber, and wanted to go around the world with his trade.

He is currently using the Step by Step programme that helps vulnerable people with housing and support, and also receives Jobseeker’s Allowance.

Mr Wright called the offence an "isolated blip" and said it was not very serious.

Taking into consideration Gillani’s financial difficulties, chairman of the bench Pat Browne said: “You will be conditionally discharged for 12 months and in this time if you commit any other offences you are likely to face a much harsher penalty.”

Gillani was also ordered to pay a £50 fine for his abusive language and behaviour, compensate the bakery with the original value of the sandwich and pay a mandatory victim surge charge of £15, making a total of £67.20 to pay up.

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typical of alot of people hes had probs ie prison learn from it his course im presuming paid for dole mone what else does he want get a job support yourself not the hardworking tax payer

crazylady, the world
16/07/2010 at 08:30

make him work in the shop free pay back the debt

crazylady, the world
15/07/2010 at 09:09

Just a pity we are not under Shariah law sometimes isn't it? Then scumbags like this loser would lose their hands! He's had his chances, now it's time to pay!! Maggot

James @ Uralla, Uralla NSW
14/07/2010 at 14:16

Not all people claiming benefits are scammers or benefit thieves. You have all been reading too much government propaganda. There are about to be a lot of 'middle class' people on benefits soon. Get of your high horses.

sarasara, sandhurst
14/07/2010 at 12:29

mad you cant steal regardless of circumstance

crazylady, the world
12/07/2010 at 21:49

this young man gets benifits that to feed him for things in life he needs to to use his bacground as an excuse to steal its wrong, hes on jobseekers and working cash in hand no doubt as his barber training will clearly allow that kind of thing have a look round the local barb ers you will see him working for more than prob bas low pay to an employers whos abusing the system also instead of paying him a good wage as to enable him not to steal

crazylady, the world
12/07/2010 at 08:04

Wow, lots of compassion here.

Firstly, anybody resorting to nicking a sandwich from Greggs must be pretty desperate.

Secondly, he was putting nobody at risk. He wasn't drunk driving. He wasn't speeding. He wasn't drive while talking on his mobile phone.

Sure, he should get punished, but just because he succumbed to a sandwich, he shouldn't be hung, drawn and quartered.

Let him who is without sin, and all that...

Sunny Frimley, Frimley
11/07/2010 at 22:52

I'm not a lawyey but it looks like he was given a conditional discharge for the theft and the fine and compensation is for abusive language. Reading the above the guy is no angel!

Wef44 your way out of touch, stealing is stealing in my books, I though I paid my taxes to get the police to deal with thieves.

HD1340
6/07/2010 at 16:49

A total of £67.20 to pay up... and he is on jobseekers allowance.

Ah, so it is the tax payer who has just been fined.

The law really is an ass. The courts should dish out different penalties in these situations - community service would have been a much better option.

pjt
6/07/2010 at 10:28

This is the trickle before the flood, just wait once the new homeless shelter is up and running. Loads more junkies and drunks to wonder the £1.00 shop streets of Aldershot.

doormon, Aldershot
6/07/2010 at 09:25

Totally agree with all comments, makes my blood boil! Hard working people should be better off than this low life but unfortunately we are worse off and the government is supporting these scammers more than the working crowd. They should have been much more tougher with the benefit cuts! Really makes me mad that they have everything for free, they just make mess, drink, take/sell drugs, moan about life but will not get off their lazy backside! Arrghhh

Vera Nesvadbova
5/07/2010 at 23:43

Totall agree with c123, fleet

1 thing different though not everyone in Aldershot is getting benefit and help - I am a cancer patient and don't warrent any help or benefit.

Apparently people don't help me!

I must admit I would not put myself in trouble to nick from any where and yes this person should be a shamed of himself for what he has done because their are allways others worse off than himself.

Labour goverment stated they helped people with cancer - you must be joking - and up to a couple of years ago I worked all my life and cannot get any help - but this Liam gets all the help he wants - where is the justice in that?

Aldershot Born
5/07/2010 at 21:12

He is a hardly a "vulnerable" person! What little Liam needs is a bloody good kick up the backside and told to get a job. This is a typical example of what Aldershot is all about. Here we have some useless charity colluding with yet another waste of space whist he sits on his backside doing nothing all day. He has a free roof over his head and money in his back pocket, and probably free food from the this so called charity. I expect he has also got a number of "professionals" such as social workers looking after his everyday needs whilst he causes chaos and upset throughout Aldershot. God give me strength!

c123, fleet
5/07/2010 at 16:53

Step by Step programme that helps vulnerable people with housing and support, and also receives Jobseeker’s Allowance - Nice what about us hard workers who cant afford a house? Wheres are help?

Air Bear, Aldershot
5/07/2010 at 16:03

What a load of rubbish, ok he should not have stolen to feed himself but to run this as a story is pathetic, the police farce are hardly going to score points with the community for arresting someone that stole out of need, poor bloke give him a break. I just can't wait for the police farce to actually solve something more serious (but the day that happens I will probably be long dead) What are you going to report on next? maybe a 'cat stuck up tree' story or similar junk?