A judge told Keith White: “At times, you are very nasty”
Keith White(Image: Facebook)
A man rubbed his hands, said “lovely” and gave a judge two thumbs up as he was freed from prison. Keith White caused thousands of pounds of damage after leaving an an aparthotel flooded following a burglary.
It came after the serial “nuisance”, who now requires the use of a wheelchair after being shot in the leg in his native Ireland, callously stole from staff at the Royal Liverpool Hospital. His crime spree also saw him strike at a Tesco store and a coffee shop.
Liverpool Crown Court heard today, Friday, that White was seen on CCTV entering Black Sheep Coffee in Liverpool ONE shortly after 10.15am on August 4 last year before pocketing a card machine from a self service till. The 36-year-old, of Hey Green Road in Wavertree, then attempted to steal a second card machine before successfully taking a third and leaving the premises.
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Olivia Randell, prosecuting, described how, at around 11am on the same date, Andzeilka Rzepnikowska was in the process of selling an iPhone at a branch of CeX in Liverpool city centre. But, when both the customer and employee were not looking, White swiped the device from the countertop and left.
His offending would continue on September 20, when he entered the Royal Liverpool Hospital alongside an unknown woman shortly before 12.30am. The pair were confronted by security staff as they were present outside of visiting hours, at which stage a pair of sunglasses dropped from his person.
CCTV showed that White had earlier rifled through drawers at a reception desk in order to take the item, with a bag of cocaine later being discovered during an “intimate search” at St Anne Street Police Station following his arrest. Having been released on bail, he was then caught attempting to steal 11 packets of ham from a Tesco Express store on the afternoon of September 29.
Finally, at approximately 6pm on October 3, the defendant and a second male were caught on camera entering 44 Renshaw aparthotel and stealing items including artificial plants, pieces of artwork, a mirror, a toilet brush, cleaning products and tea and coffee. White, who has 36 previous convictions for 58 offences, was subsequently seen entering the bathroom before leaving, after which the room became flooded due to a basin being removed.
This caused a total of £5,000 of damage. Bernice Campbell, defending, told the court: “This is the type of defendant, very sadly, your honour comes across regularly. He is an addict.
“Mr White is now on methadone. He is a polite, pleasant, endearing man who could have a future if drugs are not part of his problems. He needs help. He is looking at a future where he can work with probation to get off drugs.
“He has a disability. He was shot when he was in Ireland. He has a leg which may well have to be removed in the near future. He is vulnerable in his own circumstances.
“He wants to be free from drugs. He is apologetic. When he is sober, he is of a clearer mind. Hopefully this will be a chance that he will grab and take.”
White admitted burglary, three counts of theft, attempted theft and possession of cocaine. Appearing via video link to HMP Liverpool wearing a grey prison issue jumper, he was handed an 18-month community order with a rehabilitation activity requirement of up to 35 days and a 12-month drug rehabilitation requirement.
Sentencing, District Judge John McGarva said: “Looking at your record, you are a nuisance. You have caused a considerable amount of distress to the residents of Liverpool. At times, you are very nasty.
“You do not deserve a lot of sympathy. You are a drug user. You have chosen to go down this road, and that has turned you into the person you are.
“If I impose an immediate custodial sentence, in many ways it would be ducking the issue. You would be released, at most, in about 12 weeks’ time, probably much earlier. There would be limited work done with you.
“I am not convinced that you are in a place where you are going to cooperate, but if you don’t you are going to be getting a significant custodial sentence. If you do not comply, you will get clobbered and will get the full force of any sentence that you properly deserve.
“It is up to you what you want to do with you life now. You are not in good health, and taking class A drugs is going to shorten your life.”
White was also told to pay compensation totalling £450 to his victims. He rubbed his hands and said “lovely” as he was told he would not spend any further time behind bars, then put two thumbs up to the camera and said: “Yes.”