A MAN described as a “prolific, persistent and professional thief” has been jailed for a year after he stole hundreds of pounds worth of items from a Powys garden centre over consecutive days.

Dean John Ludlow and his partner stole items amounting to around £200 from the Old Railway Line Garden Centre in Three Cocks, near Llyswen, on April 5 this year. They “brazenly” returned to the scene of the crime the following day and stole more items, this time amounting to over £400. They were caught when staff – noticing stock was missing – checked CCTV. Ludlow was identified by a police officer.

Mold Crown Court heard today (June 30) that Ludlow, 50, had a criminal record that stretched back to the 1980s, which included nearly 98 theft offences.

Prosecutor Oliver King said the defendant, of Church Street, Knighton, had originally denied the offences, when appearing at Welshpool Magistrates’ Court, in April, but admitted his guilt a few days later. He further admitted driving while disqualified and without insurance.

Mr King said that Ludlow, by committing these offences, was in breach of a suspended sentence order imposed by Bristol Crown Court in November 2021.

“The thefts were targeted and brazen, with items taken from an independent small business,” said Mr King.

“Staff did a stock take and discovered items were missing. When they checked CCTV, they could see a red Seat Ibiza in the car park on April 5. The defendant was driving, he was disqualified from driving at the time. He was with a female, she was his partner, Jade Cambridge.

“They entered the garden centre and took bottles of alcohol, as well as electric items, garden products, a necklace and a bag, all worth £200.91. They walked out without paying.

“They then came back the next day, went in, selected items from the shelves, including a glass table, Easter eggs and bottled spirits, this time amounting to £424.31. They made no attempt to pay.

“The matter was reported to police and the defendants were identified by an officer who’d dealt with them previously.”

Mr King said the pair were arrested at their home address on April 10, giving no comment interviews. Cambridge pleaded guilty in the lower court.

Mr King added: “Dean Ludlow is a prolific thief, going back to the 1980s. There are 98 thefts on his record. His previous convictions, together with this offence, involving him acting with another and the deliberate targeting of a small business, clearly indicates an upward adjustment in the custodial range.”

Simon Killeen, defending Ludlow, said his client had taken steps to address his drug addiction which sparked the thefts.

“The defendant hopes the court, despite his poor previous compliance and very poor record, may consider a similar recommendation given to his partner,” said Mr Killeen.

“It would assist the defendant, and in the long term the community, by providing a structured and intense intervention.

“He pleaded guilty, not immediately, but soon after and has spent almost three months in custody. He has a positive outlook of his own attitude to wanting to beat this, and he now has stable accommodation.”

Judge Rhys Rowlands told Ludlow that despite receiving a 12-month prison sentence, suspended for two years last November, he was now back before the court having breached that order.

“Aggravating features are that you acted together, it was planned, it was a deliberate targeting of a small local business; and the second theft was particularly brazen as it involved you returning to the same garden centre, having in your mind felt you’d gotten away with the first theft," he said.

“The nature of the items stolen make it plain you were stealing intending to sell on, no doubt to satisfy your drug habit. It makes it plain to me that you’re determined to steal when the opportunity presents itself.

“You are a prolific, persistent and professional thief, with an extensive record of offending, as well as repeated breaches of court orders.

“You had the good sense to plead guilty and I hear you’re taking steps to address your addiction. But I am firmly of the view that due to your poor compliance and the fact you’ve committed further offences, there are no realistic prospects of rehabilitation and there are no reasons not to activate the sentence.”

Ludlow was handed eight months in prison for breaching the suspended sentence order, with two months added for the second theft and two months for driving while disqualified, with four weeks for the first theft to be served concurrently.

He was also disqualified from driving for a further two years.