24
Apr
Knaresborough man fined for perfume thefts
A man has been fined for stealing £304 worth of perfume from a Knaresborough shop.
Phil McNeil, 34, appeared at Harrogate Magistrates Court yesterday (April 23) when he admitted three counts of shop theft.
Cieran Bamford, 34, admitted one shop theft, which he committed with McNeil.
Prosecutor Sarah Tyrer told the court McNeil entered Savers on Knaresborough High Street on December 13 last year at around 4.30pm.
At the time, another man who went into the shop with McNeil spoke to a staff member at Savers while the defendant selected three bottles of perfume valued at £110 and left without paying.
But McNeil, of Park Crest in Knaresborough, returned to the same shop the following day, at around the same time.
Again, he stole various bottles of perfume – this time worth £194 – and left without paying, the court heard.
He was identified through CCTV footage on both occasions.
Ms Tyrer said McNeil and Bamford went to One Stop on Harrogate's Knaresborough Road together on March 9.
The defendants entered the shop and, between them, picked up a 12-pack of WKD, some Jack Daniels and Coca Cola, and a sandwich.
The value of the stolen goods was £39.
The theft was, once again, captured on CCTV and both thieves were identified.
The court heard McNeil wasn’t interviewed but Bamford, who was of Leeds but told the court he is of no fixed address, made a full admission during his police interview.
‘They both want to move on with their lives’
Chris McGrogan, defending, told the court Bamford has been out of trouble for around a year and he “readily admitted” his involvement to police.
“He held his hands up and did not even ask to see the CCTV”, Mr McGrogan said.
He added:
Mr Bamford is very annoyed with himself for doing it. He moved away from Harrogate to make a new life for himself.
He’d had a falling out with his partner that day and he wanted to remove himself from the situation, so he came back over to Harrogate and met up with some people and had a drink. It was the first time he’d drunk for a while.
Bamford can’t remember much of the incident, the court heard, but he accepts responsibility.
Turning to McNeil, Mr McGrogan said he had been homeless for "quite a period of time" and, at the time of the offences, was “living on the streets”.
“He was really struggling to cope, but he has since started up a relationship with a woman… he’s hoping to move in with his new partner”, he added.
The court was told:
They both want to move on with their lives and they realise they need some stability in their lives.
Bamford was ordered to pay a total of £160 the court, while McNeil was ordered to pay £580. Both financial penalties included compensation to the respective shops.
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