Daniel Emberson stole beer from Swaffham’s Tesco while going through a ‘hard time’

A 27-year-old stole alcohol on two separate occasions while drinking to cope with a “hard time”.

Daniel Emberson, 27, of no fixed address but believed to be from the Swaffham area, admitted two counts of stealing during a hearing at Lynn Magistrates’ Court on Thursday.

He was not present, with his solicitor entering the pleas on his behalf.

Prosecutor Paul Brown said that the first incident took place on March 4 in Bury St Edmunds, where Emberson entered a Nisa Local store and picked up a bottle of Echo Falls wine valued at £7.99 and left without paying.

A few days later on March 12, Emberson went into Tesco in Swaffham, picked up a case of San Miguel worth £12.75, and again left without paying.

In mitigation, solicitor Charlotte Winchester said that Emberson was going through a “hard time” when he committed the thefts and was using alcohol to cope.

“He was short of money. He says he regrets this,” Ms Wichester said.

Magistrates handed Emberson a six-month conditional discharge and ordered him to pay compensation worth a combined £20.74 back to both shops he stole from.

He was also ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £50.