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02
Jun
Harrogate man admits stealing phone at supermarket self-checkout
The Stray Ferret spent the day at Harrogate Magistrates Court on Thursday (May 29).
We also spent the morning there on Friday (May 30).
We sat through the hearings, which included cases of theft and drink-driving.
You can read reports on two cases below.
A man has admitted stealing a phone from a self-checkout at a Harrogate supermarket.
Paul Golling, of Dene Park, pleaded guilty to one offence of theft – including theft by finding – on Friday.
Kay Barnard, prosecuting, told the court the complainant went into Asda in Harrogate on October 14 last year.
The man left his phone at the self-serve checkout, but did not realise this until he had got home.
The court heard the man returned to the supermarket, but the phone was not there when he arrived.
CCTV footage showed a male, who had used the same checkout, had taken the phone with him when he left the store.
Ms Barnard said the stolen iPhone cost the complainant £420 to replace.
Golling told police he had “intended to hand the phone in”, but when it rang he threw it into an embankment.
“He told police he did not intend to steal the phone”, the court heard.
Golling breached a suspended sentence order imposed in August 2023 by committing the offence.
Sean Wilson, defending, told the court Golling is someone “who has a troubled life”.
The defendant lost his partner of 25 years in recent years and has a number of mental health issues.
He was prescribed medication for anxiety and depression as a teenager, and has been diagnosed with schizophrenia in the past.
The court heard the 51-year-old is also waiting for an assessment for what could be “severe agoraphobia”.
Mr Wilson said:
He picked up the phone intending to give it to customer services, but due to his mental health he was too scared to speak to them. He put the phone in his back pocket and, when it rang, it shocked him. He threw it down an embankment.
The magistrates fined Golling a total of £617. This comprises an £80 fine, a £32 surcharge, £85 in prosecution costs and £420 in compensation.
The suspended sentence was not activated as Golling previously completed the other requirements of the order.
DJ admits drink-driving after shift
A DJ admitted to drink-driving after a shift in Harrogate.
Max Czernik, of Lindley Mews in Harrogate, pleaded guilty to one offence of drink-driving during the hearing on Thursday (May 29).
Mel Ibbotson, prosecuting, told the court police were notified by CCTV operatives at around 2.30am on February 28.
They made officers aware of two men, who were seen leaving The Ivory on The Ginnel in Harrogate and getting into separate cars.
CCTV operatives believed the men had been drinking.
The court heard police officers took the registration details of Czernik’s car and arrived at his house at 3.15am.
Czernik told police he had been driving the car and had drunk a can of Madri when he got home.
The 30-year-old defendant was arrested and taken to the police station, where he gave a reading of 43 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath.
The legal limit is 35 micrograms.
Andrew Tinning, defending, told the court Czernik has a weekly shift as a DJ in Harrogate.
However, he was covering for a friend on the night of the offence and it was not his usual shift.
The court heard Czernik’s friends came into the bar that night and offered to get him a drink.
Czernik accepted and thinks he drank three or four pints.
Mr Tinning said:
He tells me he was not thinking – he made a stupid mistake.
Mr Czernik had another drink when he got home, but that drink was not responsible for him being over the limit.
Czernik is of previous good character.
He was banned from driving for 13 months, which would be reduced by 13 weeks if he completes a drink-driving course by a set date.
Czernik was ordered to pay a £200 fine, £85 in prosecution costs and an £80 surcharge.
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