A shoplifter who said he stole groceries and alcohol because he was ‘starving’ and had ‘no money’ has been fined £40.
Alan Whiteman, 51, of Sibden Mews in Shanklin admitted a pair of theft from a shop offences when he appeared at the Isle of Wight Magistrates Court earlier this week (Tuesday).
Prosecuting on behalf of the Crown Prosecution Service, Liz Miller told the court that on the 13th April, Whiteman entered Co-op on Shanklin’s Regent Street and placed grocery items – worth £21.55 – into his rucksack and left the store without paying.
A week later, Whiteman entered the same store and picked up 3x 4-packs of Stella Artois – valued at £16.50 – before heading for the door.
Despite being challenged by staff at the door, Whiteman refused to hand the goods over.
None of the stolen items were recovered.
The court heard how Whiteman had been out of trouble since 2019, when he was convicted for a similar offence. Before that, the 51-year-old was last in court in 2008.
Defending Whiteman, Oscar Vincent, told the court that his client was starving and had no-money at the time of the incident. He added that the offending had no planning and was low-value and impulsive.
Magistrates handed Whiteman a £40 fine and ordered he pay compensation of £38.05 to Co-op. He was also ordered to pay a surcharge fee of £16.
So hungry he needed a beer ,poor bloke must of been starving
Hungry fair enough but ya dont need the stella devils water
Since Labour gained power shoplifting is becoming a
National epidemic, obviously all the benefit monies being
given to families is not solving the problem.
It’s time stores employed security, ordinary staff want to be
careful they don’t get sacked for trying to stop shoplifters.
On the mainland recently Waitrose and Morrisons have sacked
staff who done so.
Employ security or lock alcohol away in cages, or stop
selling alcohol.
The shoplifting epidemic is for more likely to result from the Tory slash and burn of policing when Mrs May was Home Sec than the current Labour govt. Meanwhile, the supermarkets make millions but will not employ security staff.
Oh, so it’s the shops fault then? And the Tories. Give your head a wobble.
With all the price increases since the pandemic
and self service tills (which = less employees)
Profits are at an all time high for supermarkets
so they could easily pay security staff.
Many do have security staff