AN OSWESTRY thief was refused travel to his sentencing hearing on Friday because he said he had an ‘upset stomach’.

Carl Doidge, 37, is currently a serving prisoner at HMP Hewell for a number of offences from 2023 including shoplifting and non-domestic burglary.

In January this year at Telford Magistrates Court, he pleaded guilty to assaulting a security guard at B&M in Oswestry in an incident on August 31, 2023 after he was confronted for stealing a bottle of wine and chewing gum.

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He had previously admitted the theft and also admitted spitting in the guard’s face and leaving without paying.

He also faces being sentenced for stealing vapes, e-cigarettes, tobacco, cigarettes and a Halifax Bank Card to the value of £1,624.51 from Esso at Mile End Services, outside Oswestry.

He was set to appear at Shrewsbury Crown Court in front of Judge Anthony Lowe on Friday morning but Kevin Jones, defending, said Doidge’s absence was not of his own making.

Doidge will also be sentenced for an assault of a former partner, when he was convicted in his absence on the strength of her evidence.

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The court heard that Doidge had reported feeling unwell to the prison nurse who passed him fit to travel, which Mr Jones said his client was willing to do.

However, when he go onto the transport, prison refused to take him to the court as he presented with an upset stomach and there were no facilities for him to use.

He was taken back to his cell and Judge Lowe heard that a video link was not available, despite the defendant’s willingness to appear, and his case was adjourned to Friday, April 5.