A thieving couple repeatedly stole parcels, shoplifted and even exploited a kind-hearted friend to get their next fix.
John Firth, 45, and Aileen Cullinane, 35, were sleeping rough when a friend offered them a room for the night. The next morning they had left, and had taken her TV, make-up and prescription tablets.
Both were in the throes of a drug addiction, with Cullinane spending up to £60 a day on heroin, Manchester Crown Court heard.
READ MORE: Man, 68, with young family slammed after ‘astonishing’ decision
READ MORE: ‘This plan will turn a 200-year-old canal into a ticking time-bomb’
Firth, who racked up a whopping 118 offences on his criminal record, had also stolen items including washing scent boosters and coffee to fund his addiction.
Jailing him, the Recorder of Manchester, judge Nicholas Dean KC told him: “If you continue the way you have been over the last few years you will either spend the rest of your life in prison or dead before you are 50.”
In chronological order Tobias Collins, prosecuting, outlined the offences. In April 2023, Firth was spotted on CCTV putting numerous bottles of Lenor Scent Booster into his rucksack in Aldi, in Eccles.
Then, in May, he returned to the same store and was approached by the manager who confronted him. Firth told him: “F*** off you c*** or I’ll stab you.”
There were no further recorded offences until August last year when he shoplifted twice in the same day from a Co-op. It was later that year, on September 28, when a friend of Firth and Cullinane, who had known them for some time, saw them together.
“They explained they were sleeping rough so she offered them a room for the night,” Mr Collins said. “The following day she knocked on the door where she allowed both defendants to stay and told them she was going out for an hour with another woman. When she returned she noticed her TV was missing, her make-up products, prescription tablets and a bottle of wine.”
Remarking on the incident, the judge said: “It’s taking advantage of somebody’s generosity and kindness in a way that is mean and reprehensible.”
Over the course of the next couple of months, both defendants were seen ‘tailgating’ into the foyers of various apartment blocks and swiping parcels which had been delivered to residents. In one parcel was a pair of shoes worth £160, in another there were items from Temu worth £87 and in another was clothing worth £100.
One victim said in a statement: “I have worked hard to earn money to afford luxury items. Then someone stole it with no regard for what was inside or the impact it would have.”
Another said: “The parcel was intended to be a Christmas present for my boyfriend. This has been incredibly upsetting. I feel violated that somebody came into my address and stole the items I have worked hard to buy. I have struggled over Christmas – not only have I lost the gift but it has left me feeling unsafe in my own home.”
On December 9 last year, police caught up with the pair who were sleeping in a tent on Ordsall Lane, Salford. Cullinane was found in possession of a morphine tablet.
Both were arrested and interviewed and have since pleaded guilty to the following: Firth pleaded guilty to five offences of burglary and five offences of theft; and Cullinane admitted four offences of burglary, one offence of theft and one offence of the possession of class A drugs.
The court heard that both had previous convictions for theft on their records. Representing Firth, Nick Ross said his criminal record was ‘shocking’, though said he had been through ‘enormous personal difficulties’.
“He knows that’s not an excuse. He has been addicted to heroin and other hard drugs since he was 13-years-old,” he said. “He knows he has to sort his life out. Otherwise he will spend more and more years in prison. He is ashamed.”
For Cullinane, Isabelle Haddad said her client was also ‘ashamed’. “She has suffered with a long-standing drug addiction after her ex-partner and father of her children died,” Ms Haddad said.
“She feels, if released, she will engage in drug rehabilitation. She has since ended the relationship with the co-defendant.”
Judge Dean sentenced Firth, of Brookhouse Avenue, Eccles, to 22 months in prison. “The fact is you are a prolific offender,” he said.
Cullinane, of Rodney Street, Salford, was handed 16 months imprisonment which was suspended for two years. She must attend the Woman’s Problem Solving Court, complete a 12 month drug rehabilitation programme and 20 days of rehabilitation activity requirements.
“This was your first experience of custody. Some of the offending was mean – someone had been generous towards you and you treated her badly,” the judge told her.
“I hope this is the last time I see you.”
Firth responded: “So do I, mate.”
