Two King's Lynn men stole cash from bucket at YMCA charity shop on Norfolk Street

Two men pleaded guilty to stealing cash from a charity bucket when they appeared at court on Thursday.

Leon Dowd, 40, of Dodmans Close in Lynn, and Paul Pentelow, 44, of no fixed abode, attended Lynn Magistrates' Court simultaneously - with the former doing so via video link from HM Prison Norwich.

Prosecuting, Penina Giffen said a volunteer at the YMCA charity in Lynn had noted there was £25 in a bucket outside its premises on Norfolk Street prior to the incident.

The volunteer saw Dowd and Pentelow approaching and take money from the bucket, with only £2 left afterwards.

Dowd, who is currently serving a six-month custodial sentence, was ordered to serve one day's detention for the offence, while Pentelow was told to pay £23 in compensation to the charity.

The latter was also handed a six-month conditional discharge, but was not ordered to make any other payments due to his financial situation.

In mitigation, Charlotte Winchester said Dowd had been intoxicated at the time of the theft and could not remember it, but that he accepted responsibility.

She added that he seems to be "using his time wisely" in prison to improve his alcohol problems.

Ms Winchester said that Pentelow could not remember his actions either - but that he had since returned to the charity and made a donation of around £9.

She said Pentelow "felt terribly as it is a charity that has helped him at points in the past".

Ms Winchester added: "He is in a much better place than he was then."

Pentelow has also reportedly been seeking help and counselling for alcohol-related problems, which Ms Winchester said is going well and has led to "a great achievement".

"It does seem that he is turning his life round," she said.