A jury took just over a minute to convict a Bristol man of theft. Edmond Xhuveli, from Holton Road, Horfield, had denied stealing 20.79 worth of groceries from a branch of Morrisons, despite being caught red-handed after failing to pay for them at a self-service till. Xhuveli opted for a Crown court trial and got to put his case before a jury yesterday.
But the jurors were unconvinced and found him guilty unanimously with no need for deliberation.
Taunton Crown Court heard how Xhuveli had gone into the supermarket in Bridgwater with his wife, but that the couple soon attracted the attention of a plain-clothes store detective.
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The couple put items into their basket, but Xhuveli put some fish and hair gel into his wife’s handbag. The couple then went to the self-service checkouts, where they failed to scan a leg of lamb and a bag of clementines. After they left the store, they were met outside by the store manager and security guard, and police were called.
Mitigating, Emily Evans said that although Xhuveli had previous convictions for shoplifting, the offence had been committed over a year ago and he had not offended since.
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She said Mr Xhuveli had lost his son in tragic circumstances, which had left his wife suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. He had his own business as a builder, and was his wife’s primary carer, she said. Giving Xhuveli a 10-week suspended jail sentence, Recorder Joanna Martin told him: “You were convicted by a jury after a trial and you can have no complaint about the way and the reasons that you were convicted.
“You went out with your wife who we have heard has severe mental health difficulties including post-traumatic stress disorder you knew all of that. You knew how vulnerable she was, yet you used her to aid you in your shop-lifting.
“Because of the fact that you care for your wife, and because sending people to prison for a short time is pointless, what I intend to do is to pass a sentence that will stop you from offending again.”
Xhuveli must also carry out 60 hours of unpaid work.
“I hope the unpaid work will be a reminder of the suspended sentence that is hanging over you,” said Ms Martin.
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Police want to trace 21-year-old offender
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