Hunstanton man Carl Roper in King’s Lynn court after stealing electric screwdriver he needed for work

A thief was ordered to pay compensation after stealing an electric screwdriver from a town’s hardware store.

Carl Roper, 47, of Seagate Road in Hunstanton, appeared at Lynn Magistrates’ Court on Thursday where he admitted to the theft from B&Q in Lynn.

Prosecutor Nicola Lamb said that on December 13, 2023, Roper entered the hardware store, took the tool – valued at £15 – and hid it in his jacket.

He left the store without making any attempt to pay.

Six days later, he was arrested and made full admissions to the police.

In mitigation, Ruth Johnson explained that Roper needed the screwdriver to carry out some work.

“It was the case that Mr Roper had been offered some labour work and didn’t have all the items he needed.

“He didn’t have the funds to buy the screwdriver. He went for the cheaper one but was upset with himself and embarrassed.”

By committing this offence, Roper put himself in breach of a conditional discharge that was placed by a previous bench of magistrates on August 10.

However, magistrates allowed for that discharge to keep running, meaning he did not face any further consequences such as a prison sentence.

He was ordered to pay £15 in compensation back to B&Q and to pay a contribution to court costs of £50.