By Daniel Angelini
A man has been sentenced to 12 months in prison after committing a series of thefts and acts of vandalism in Swindon.
Connor Kirkley, 29, who has no fixed address, appeared at Swindon Magistrates Court earlier this month, visibly injured with black eyes and a cut on his face. He pleaded guilty to multiple offences over the past year, including criminal damage, fraud by false representation, shoplifting, handling stolen goods, and vehicle interference.
Kirkley caused £190 worth of damage to a car window and attempted to steal from a vehicle on November 26, 2023. Just a few days later, on November 30, he stole clothing valued at £154.98 from TK Maxx. On December 1, he used stolen bank cards to purchase goods worth £93.44 and made an unsuccessful attempt to buy more items.
His criminal activities continued into January 2024, where he paid for items using a stolen bank card, stole food from Tesco Express, and handled additional stolen bank cards. On June 16, 2024, he stole alcohol from Marks and Spencer and subsequently caused £675 in damage to windows belonging to Threshold Housing the following day.
Due to the severity of his crimes and his history as a repeat offender, Kirkley received a 12-month prison sentence. The court did not impose any additional costs.
Kirkley has a long history of offences, including an incident in October 2020 when he assaulted a Sainsbury’s security guard with a capped needle while attempting to steal whiskey. Previously, he had been on bail for shoplifting and involvement in a stolen vehicle.
In 2017, he was sentenced to 18 months in prison for stealing £400 worth of Hugo Boss clothing and assaulting a security guard, who suffered a heart attack shortly after the incident.