South Shields man stashed Greggs sandwich in trousers in raid on King Street branch

But Karl Wilson, 46, did not use his loaf when he made his escape from one of the retailer’s King Street stores in South Shields – for he was glaringly caught on CCTV.

Two weeks earlier, on Sunday, July 26, Wilson, of Wellington Drive, South Shields, carried out a similar theft from Superdrug in the same street.

Magistrates in South Tyneside heard his offence of swiping £87 of goods was also captured on camera.

Wilson pleaded guilty to the two theft charges and also to failing to surrender to custody, for which he was arrested on Thursday, September 10, and kept in custody overnight.

The heavily convicted paranoid schizophrenic has now been told he must pay full compensation to both retailers for loss of goods.

Prosecutor Clare Irving said: “This defendant was captured on CCTV committing these offences.

“He is seen in Superdrug and is known as someone who has stolen from them before.

“He goes around the aisles and puts items under his top. He leaves without paying and the goods are not recovered.

“He goes into Greggs and takes a sandwich, which I’m told cost £3.

“He put the sandwich into his trousers and left without paying. The sandwich was not recovered.

“He said that he’d stolen the items because he’s always run out of money.”

The court was told Wilson had a criminal record of 58 offences from 23 convictions, including 12 for dishonesty.

He was last before magistrates in July on another theft matter, it was said.

David Forrester, defending, said: “He’s a diagnosed paranoid schizophrenic, he’s on medications and he’s off medications. He’s a vulnerable individual.”

Of failing to surrender, he added: “The reality is that he thought that he had been bailed for six weeks, he’s got the wrong date, he’s somewhat disordered in his thinking.

“He was arrested on a warrant at 3pm yesterday. You may feel that is an appropriate sentence of detention.”

Wilson was given an absolute discharge for the absconding charge and magistrates confirmed they had taken note of his time held in custody.

There were no court costs.

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