A THIEF stole a pensioner’s purse from a South Tyneside Post Office and pocketed £170.
Mark Rogers noticed the purse on a shelf in Keppel Street Post Office, South Shields, and picked it up before leaving.
The 44-year-old took the cash and threw the £20 purse away.
The contents included bank cards and two concert tickets worth £50.
It happened at 2.30pm on December 18.
Later the same day, the owner realised the purse was missing and called police.
Rogers, of Devonshire Street, South Shields, pleaded guilty to theft at South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court.
The court heard police recognised Rogers from CCTV.
A statement from the victim was read out in court.
It said: “I would have liked to think it would have been handed in, but it shows that you can’t trust anyone.”
Christopher Brown, defending, said: “It was a spur of the moment, opportunistic theft.
“It wasn’t planned.
“He should have taken it to the cashier and handed it in but he didn’t. He took it and treated it as his own.”
Magistrates made a compensation order and ordered Rogers to pay £190 to his victim and £85 costs.