A man has been sentenced for a string of alcohol thefts at a Harrogate shop.

Carl Baines, who gave his address as Roche Avenue in Harrogate, pleaded guilty to five counts of theft from a shop on February 20.

His case was adjourned for a pre-sentence report to be prepared. Baines returned to Harrogate Magistrates Court yesterday (April 10) for sentencing, but the report was not read aloud during the hearing. 

Alison Whiteley, prosecuting, told the court the thefts were a matter of “repeated offending targeting one shop” – namely, One Stop on Devonshire Place.

Baines entered the store twice on November 23 last year – once at 3.50pm and again at 6.12pm – and stole San Miguel to the value of £12 on both occasions.

He returned to the One Stop store on November 26, when he stole Foster’s lager to the value of £11.50.

The 19-year-old defendant then stole £12 worth of San Miguel on both December 13 and December 18.

The total value of the items stolen amounted to £59.90. 

Defendant was ‘struggling with alcohol’ at the time

Bryony Hemmingway, defending, told the court Baines apologises for his actions and said they were “very out of character”.

He was struggling with alcohol at the time of the offences, the court heard, and he was “going through a difficult time”.

However, Ms Hemmingway said the defendant was happy to comply with any requirements imposed.

The magistrates sentenced Baines to a 12-month community order.

During the order, he must complete a six-month alcohol treatment requirement, 20 rehabilitation activity days and 80 hours of unpaid work.

He was also ordered to pay £59.90 in compensation to One Stop, as well as £85 in prosecution costs and a £114 surcharge.