Homeless thief couldn’t remember stealing two bottles of wine from a South Shields Tesco
An alcoholic who pinched wine from a Tesco store in South Tyneside could recall nothing of the offence when arrested six months later, a court heard.
Joel Berry, 38, stole two bottles of the retailer’s Finest Malbec – totalling £18 – from its outlet in Sea Winnings Way, near South Shields seafront.
Homeless Berry did so on Sunday, June 22, last year but was not arrested until Christmas Eve, a six-month gap in which his memory failed him.
When questioned by police about the offence and shown video footage taken from the shop, he admitted the culprit “must have been me”, prosecutor Glenda Beck said.
Berry also concluded he must have consumed the booze but again could not elaborate, magistrates in South Tyneside were told.
Mrs Beck told the hearing: “The witness confirmed that Mr Berry entered the Tesco Express store at 8.39am on June 22.
“He selected two bottles of wine and left without offering payment. The value of the wine is £18, and compensation is applied for on behalf of Tesco.
“A police officer viewed images of the theft and identified Mr Berry as the male responsible, having had dealings with him previously.
“He was arrested and interviewed at Southwick police station on Christmas Eve. He said the offence was so long ago that he couldn’t remember.
“He was shown CCTV and said, ‘It must have been me’. When asked what he’d done with the products, he said, ‘I must have drunk them, I’m alcohol dependent’.”
Berry pleaded guilty to a charge of theft from a shop. The court heard he has 11 previous theft or kindred offences but the last was over a decade ago.
Defending himself in court, Berry told magistrates: “I’m alcohol dependent and was going through a bad time. It’s just one of those things.”
Magistrates ordered Berry to pay Tesco £18 in compensation but imposed no other financial penalty.
They heard he owes the courts £417 from previous matters, which he is paying from his benefits at £20 a month.