A burglar notorious for stealing from low-paid staff in Brighton’s pubs and shops has been warned he will most likely die of an overdose if he doesn’t turn his life around.
Simon Hornby is known by Brighton bar staff as the tip jar thief, having stolen from many venues in town.
He also breaks into staff rooms in restaurants and shops to take valuables employees have left there – and sometimes charity jars left by the till.
On Friday, he was in court yet again for another string of thefts and burglaries.
Prosecuting at Lewes Crown Court, Emily Thornton said Hornby had stolen a speaker from the Apple Store and clothing from the Cotswold Outdoor in Brighton in October last year.
That month, he also got into the staff room at Forbidden Planet in East Street and stole an employee’s iPad, worth £2,000.
Fortunately, the theft was discovered quickly and Hornby had been caught on CCTV, from which police were able to quickly identify him.
He was arrested soon after in London Road with the iPad which was returned to its owner.
While on bail for that burglary in January, he went into HM Samuel, in Churchill Square, and stole a bracelet despite the supervisor’s best efforts to stop him.
And a few weeks later, he assaulted a security guard at Waitrose, in Western Road, who was trying to stop him leaving with stolen goods.
The most serious burglary was at Brighton Electric recording studios, in Lewes Road, in March. He went in and took three high-value microphones.
He was caught on CCTV – and arrested after going to Cash Converters with a friend to try to sell one of them. The other two have not been recovered.
In a victim impact statement read out in court, studio manager Jimi Wheelwright said Brighton Electric had put in extra security measures as a result, at a substantial extra cost.
He said: “We are not a faceless organisation. We cannot manage if things like this happen often. Our margins are too tight.
“We operate in good faith and pride ourselves on our friendly and professional manner. Something like this is rare and makes us feel less safe.
“I hope the thief realises the impact he’s had.”
Defending, Jeffrey Lamb said Hornby was currently settled, living in a hostel, in Silwood Street, but would lose his tenancy if he was given a prison sentence.
Sentencing, Judge Stephen Mooney said: “You have reached the age of 55 and you have got a dreadful record.
“I have read all about your life and how difficult that’s been. But everybody is responsible for their own actions.
“Sooner or later you have to say I’m not going to be defined by what’s happened to me in the past.
“You cannot put your interests over the interest of those who lead honest and decent lives.
“You are probably experiencing a sense of deja vu. I expect judges have said this to you many times before.
“But one day there, is going to be a last time when you are in front of a judge. That’s either going to be because you have turned your life around or, alternatively, it will be the last time because you will get out of prison and you will take a drug overdose or something will happen to you.
“You can either say I’m going to change my behaviour now and take the action which means I won’t come back before the court or, alternatively, I suspect I will read an account of you being found lying dead in Brighton city centre or being brutally assaulted.
“You are responsible for your life from here on in. You can decide to behave and to make the most of the life you have left.
“All I can do is to encourage you and that’s why I’m giving you the sentence I am today.”
Judge Mooney gave Hornby an 18-month community order, with up to 20 rehabilitation activity requirement days. No order was made for costs or compensation.
He also commended the probation officer, Suzanne Alexander, who had written the pre-sentence report recommending that sentence.
Lock him up and throw away the key.
He’s in court again in October for stealing from my shop in May, caught on camera but he’s pleading innocent. I also caught him on camera on new years eve. My staff have also caught him red handed on other occasions. Its ridiculous for him to get a community order.
He having short life is what most the community wish for.
No wonder Brighton is getting worse, no deterrent at all in that sentence….
Only Brighton ??? Country wide same problem, be a crim, no prisons to place you, not enough probation officers, not enough Police, Government solution is anything that means NOT housing and feeding you,
Send him to St Peter’s Church so he can find Jesus and repenthed
Was the judge trying to be edgy by saying that? And then passed ‘sentence’! What a joke. A lifelong career community pain in the arse out and about to cause more misery. Pathetic.
Don’t be too quick to judge, you never know what battles people are fighting, he is responsible for his actions of course, but I bet he doesn’t like his life. It’s too easy for people to judge, but after a life of habitualised behaviour like this, it is not easy to change. I speak from experience. Fortunately, I had a life-changing experience and became a Christian, my life changed overnight.
A community order? Great now he can prey on volunteers at a charity..
He looks like the man who broke into St Mary’s church too.
What’s the point in arresting him if the judge hands out such a pathetic sentence? Our legal system is a joke.
treating a professional criminal with kids glove?…the law is really really an ass..
How many last chances does a 55 year old repeat offender need?
Die young? I think that ship has already sailed.
Something tells me this will not be his last crime spree.
Septic Simon he’s known as, been at it all his life a sad story, he won’t stop he can’t, no excuses but he had no chance in life a product of a very toxic childhood but a thief till he dies
What a joke this is to decent hard working people the judges are soft touches 18 months community order what a joke may aswell say his free and that’s that reform this country
Free Lucy Connelly