Man Jailed Again After Committing 517th Offence

A man with “the worst record you will ever see,” according to his lawyer, was jailed again after being caught many times attempting to steal from a restaurant.

Andrew Davies, 43, may have the longest criminal record in Wales, with an “appalling” and “atrocious record” of 517 previous offences.

The serial thief, who became hooked on heroin as a child, has spent the majority of his life jailed and out of jail.

His efforts to steal wine from The Dock in Mermaid Quay, Cardiff Bay, occurred just a month after he narrowly escaped been jailed for earlier thefts.

Prosecutor Nicholas Evans told Cardiff Magistrates’ Court that at 6.30 pm on October 25, a “strange-looking” guy was seen coming down a flight of stairs in The Dock with bottles under his jacket.

A restaurant employee was alerted after a member of the public witnessed the robber. Davies was seen on CCTV taking three £30 bottles of vodka from behind the bar.

He returned to the crime scene three days later, but not before stealing some garments. On October 25, he broke into JD Sports on Queen Street and stole five Under Armour coats valued at £225. The next day, he returned with four Fred Perry t-shirts worth £300.

On October 28, he crept inside The Dock’s staff room but fled when confronted by a worker. He tried to enter the staff room again a few minutes later but was stopped. Davies then proceeded to Sports Direct in Cardiff Bay Retail Park and took three Liverpool FC jackets worth £195 in total.

Davies, of Butetown, admitted in court to burglary, attempted burglary, and three counts of stealing.

He has 517 offences on his record, 355 of which are related to dishonesty.

His solicitor Oliver Jenkins said: “I am the first to recognise he has an atrocious record. He perhaps has the worst record you will have seen.

“He recognises that is an appalling record and cannot be excused. His life has been blighted by addiction and unfortunately, he has been a heroin addict from childhood.”

His lawyer went on to say that Davies’ sister Nicola died of lung cancer and that his client’s behaviour was exacerbated by the fact that her burial is on Friday, Nov. 3.

“Unfortunately the loss of his sister triggered a relapse and all these offences occurred over a three-day period when he was dealing with that. She was his one remaining family member,” he argued.

He inquired as to what immediate custody “would accomplish.”

The hearing was rescheduled for later in the day to allow for an update from a substance abuse specialist, who, it is understood, did not offer a good assessment of Davies’ participation with programs.

Presiding Justice Clare Byrne sentenced the offender to ten months in prison and ordered him to pay a victim services surcharge of £154 upon his release.