A JOBLESS hod carrier posed as an old school friend after he had been stopped for shoplifting, enabling him to escape an almost certain prison sentence with a fixed penalty notice.

But the con could have had a disastrous effect on the career of his victim who worked as a voluntary carer, Southampton Crown Court heard.

Father-of-five Steven Robinson conned police into believing he was Aaron Cook after he had stolen packets of meat from a Netley Abbey convenience store. Following a check with the police national computer, it was determined he was eligible for the notice.

Prosecutor Eleanor Fargin said Robinson was stopped again about two months later when suspected of stealing jars of coffee.

Once more he masqueraded as Mr Cook but he was arrested and after his true identity had been discovered at the police station, he was bailed.

However, Mr Cook was later asked to attend the police station for not paying the notice. An identification procedure, revealed he was innocent and had not been the Netley Abbey shoplifter.

Robinson was arrested some three weeks later when he was arrested for further shoplifting.

Robinson, 34, of Bramley Crescent, Southampton, pleaded guilty to three counts of attempting to pervert the course of justice and one of theft. He was jailed for 12 months.

The court heard he had 18 previous convictions, mostly for drug-related offending.

Opening his mitigation, Richard Martin said Robinson wanted to apologise to Mr Cook for using his name to get him off the hook.

He had grappled with class A drugs for years but used alcohol as a substitute following the breakdown of a relationship.

After being released from prison, he returned to heroin which escalated. He was now grateful for being on remand which was enabling him to sort his life out. “He wants to put his old life behind him.”

Passing sentence, Judge Peter Henry accepted Mr Cook had not been arrested or placed in custody but he was under suspicion and had to go to the police station to clear his name.

“He is a voluntary carer and your action could have caused a massive impact on his life.”