KING’S LYNN: ‘Desperate’ dad stole food for his son
Cash-strapped Gordon Stone was “desperate” when he tried to steal a trolley-load of groceries to feed himself and his son, a court heard.
The 36-year-old, of Morston Drift, Lynn, appeared before Lynn magistrates on Friday and admitted stealing £263.38 worth of items from Tesco on Lynn’s Hardwick Industrial Estate on January 22.
He also admitted failing to attend court to face the charge on February 6.
Yvonne Neill, prosecuting, said Stone was seen walking out of the store with a trolley-load of unpaid groceries and was stopped by staff outside.
In police interview, he said he stole the food to feed himself and his 15-year-old son.
Ms Neill said: “He told officers he had no money and problems trying to get a loan. He said he was desperate.”
In mitigation, Alison Muir said: “Everything he put in that trolley was for himself and his son. They were daily essentials, not expensive items to be sold on.”
She said Stone described himself as “heavily in debt”. His son was also recently diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and he had to spend a lot of money travelling to hospital.
Stone was sentenced to a 12-month conditional discharge on each of the two offences, to run concurrently. He was also ordered to pay £15 costs.
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Weather for King's Lynn
Friday 24 May 2013
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