Berwick man admits theft from M&S store
A Berwick man has admitted stealing meat worth £76.33 from a Marks and Spencer store.
Henry Leiper, 41, pleaded guilty to a shoplifting charge when he appeared at Berwick Magistrates’ Court.
The court heard he was stopped by security staff as he attempted to leave the M&S store in Newcastle city centre in July.
“The goods were recovered by the shop and he admitted the offence straight away,” said Ian O’Rourke in mitigation.
Magistrates were told the defendant had been living in a tent on the town walls after spells in Blyth and Newcastle.
He is currently serving an 18 month community order.
Bench chairman Kenneth Toft told him: “Some people have faith that you are starting to get your life back in order. We can see from your record that you are pretty rubbish at shoplifting. You need to find something else to do with your time.”
He was given a six month conditional discharge and told to pay a £26 surcharge.