Wiggenhall man Wayne Brooks stole from Tesco in King’s Lynn on numerous occasions

A “good family man” stole more than £200 worth of items from the same supermarket across a three-week period.

Wayne Brooks, 33, of Common Road in Wiggenhall, appeared at Lynn Magistrates’ Court on Thursday charged with theft from a shop.

He pleaded guilty to the offence, which saw him steal from the same Tesco store in Lynn on numerous occasions between April 13 and May 3 in 2022.

Crown prosecutor Nicola Lamb told magistrates: “The defendant seems to go in, select a basket’s worth of goods, pays for some and leaves with others.”

She said that Brooks was eventually caught in the act by both CCTV footage and security staff. He was offered a conditional caution, but failed to comply with it – meaning he ended up in court.

The goods he stole, a mixture of foods and household items, were worth a combined £202.

In mitigation, solicitor George Sorrell said: “In a sense, it was an early admission when the police caught up with last year.”

He added that Brooks was in “very distressed” financial circumstances at the time, and was finding it “difficult” to provide for his partner and children.

“He was tempted on the first occasion to see if he could get away with not paying for some items by going through the self service, and he got away with it,” Mr Sorrell said.

“I am afraid that that success persuaded him to try it again. It was a reflection of his depression and circumstances which he unhappily found himself.

“Since then, he has picked himself up. He has found employment.

“Apart from this offending, he is an otherwise good family man. He tries to look after his family.

“He has learned from this offence that even if you may get away with it on one occasion, you eventually get caught.”

Magistrates, led by Ginni Hutton, ordered Brooks to pay £202 in compensation to Tesco.

They also told him to pay £105 in legal costs.