Bungling booze thieves caught on camera during South Shields store raid

Malachy Gaughan and Darren Percival had been drinking with friends in South Shields when they ran out of cash and decided to steal alcohol from Asda in order to continue their session.

The drunken duo even snatched a pair of pliers from the Coronation Street store before using it to prize off tags off an £180 haul of alcohol in the store.

The duo were spotted carrying out their crime on CCTV - and swiftly arrested over their thwarted theft.

Both Gaughan, 40, and 45-year-old Percival admitted shop theft when they appeared before South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court.

Glenda Beck, prosecuting, said; “The defendants were seen on CCTV going into the alcohol aisle of the store on April 19.

“They were seen to go into another area of the store and remove tags from bottles of alcohol.

“They used a pair of pliers on display on the shelves.

“The tags were cut off using the pliers.

“Police were called and they were cautioned and arrested.

“The alcohol was recovered.”

Kashif Khan, defending, said the pair made a ‘fairly hapless’ attempt to steal the items.

He said; “It was a fairly hapless attempt to steal the items.

“They were in South Tyneside visiting friends and had consumed alcohol.

“They wanted to continue drinking but had run out of money.

“They were never going to get away with it.

“Due to the drunken state both were in, staff quickly spotted them and saw what they were up to.

“In consumption of alcohol, they have acted foolishly.

“Thankfully, the items were recovered.”

Gaughan, of Moulton Place, Newcastle, and Percival, of Newbiggin Hall, Westerhope, were both fined £120 and ordered to pay compensation of £16.25 each for the damage caused to store property when the tags were removed.

They must also each pay prosecution costs of £42.50.