YEAR-LONG COMMUNITY ORDER FOR SHANKLIN MAN WHO STOLE LAGER FROM TOWN CENTRE SUPERMARKET

A Shanklin man who stole lager from the Co-op, before pushing a store worker into a parked car as she challenged him to retrieve the goods, has been handed a year-long community order. Terence Perkins, 38, of Orchardleigh Road in Shanklin, admitted assault by beating and theft from a shop when he appeared at the Isle of Wight Magistrates Court last month. Prosecutor Lauren Stone told the court that on 20th August 2023, at around 09:55, Perkins entered The Co-Operative store on Regent Street in Shanklin. He was instantly recognised by workers at the store as someone who uses the supermarket. Perkins went to the alcohol section and picked up 2x 4-pack of Kronenburg, before heading to the exit, making no attempts to pay. Just some 10 minutes later, at around 10:05, Perkins picked up 3x 4-pack of Heineken, again exiting the store and making no attempts to pay for the goods. A worker exited the store and questioned Perkins, asking him if he was going to pay for the goods, to which Perkins replied ‘no’. The 38-year-old then proceeded to hold the alcohol above his head so that the worker could not take it. It was at this point that some of the cans of lager fell on the floor. Perkins then opened a can saying ‘If I can’t have them no one can’. Perkins then pushed the worker with 2 hands into a car parked outside the store. The court heard how the worker suffered injuries and bruises to her arms as a result of the altercation. The cost of all goods taken was £33.30. On his criminal record, Perkins has a total of 4 offences against the person and was imprisoned for 24 weeks back in 2021 for an ABH offence. Defending, Michael McGoldrick told the court that Perkins had made full and frank admissions in Police interviews and that he was deeply sorry for what happened that day. Perkins wrote a letter to the woman involved apologising for his actions. After reading the pre-sentence report compiled by probation, Magistrates handed Perkins a 12-month community order with a 9-month alcohol treatment requirement with 20 rehabilitation activity days attached. He was ordered to pay £100 compensation to the victim of the assault and a total of £33.30 to the Co-op.