Sheriff ‘disappointed’ as serial shoplifter avoids deportation

A SHERIFF said he was “disappointed” that he couldn’t order a serial shoplifter to be deported to Poland – to face a tougher sentence.

Sheriff Gordon Liddle jailed Leszek Kazmierkiewicz for a year yesterday, but admitted the sentence did not reflect the punishment he would have received in Poland.

Kazmierkiewicz, 31, of the Capital’s Portobello Road, pleaded guilty at Edinburgh Sheriff Court to four charges of shoplifting and one of being in possession of a lock knife. Sentence had been deferred until yesterday for background reports.

On July 1 this year, the accused stole games controllers, electric toothbrushes and a towel with a value of £171.94 from the Asda store at The Jewel.

On July 11, he stole three console games and a sat nav system from Tesco at Hermiston Gait worth £239.07. Ten days later, he stole a digital camera worth £399.79 from Tesco in Meadow Place Road and he took goods valued at £96.96 from B&Q at Newcraighall on August 31.

The sheriff asked if the Crown was recommending the accused’s deportation. The reply was in the negative.

“It seems to me it would be appropriate where we have an individual who has been a prolific offender in his own country and comes here and enters into a similar campaign of serious offending,” said Sheriff Liddle.