'Alarm bells' - South Tyneside shoplifter caught with knife warned he faces jail
Magistrates adjourn case of shoplifter found in possession of a knife so reports can be made before they pass sentence.
A South Tyneside shoplifter caught with a knife after stealing a basket-load of food could be jailed after magistrates told him he was “ringing alarm bells”.
They gave the verdict on Keiran McGow, 27, of Etal Crescent, Jarrow, despite the fact he had been out of trouble for almost a decade.
Their concern also stemmed from his solicitor telling them McGow was suffering with mental health issues and “struggling with life”.
The South Tyneside court heard he pinched almost £40 of stock from Tesco’s store at Simonside, South Shields, on the morning of Tuesday, July 7.
Prosecutor Syed Ali said police because suspicious when they spotted him outside the outlet with a basket laden with goods
They gave chase and when caught and searched, McGow was found with a knife and four tablets of prohibited sleeping drug zopiclone.
He pleaded guilty to charges of theft from a shop, possession of a bladed or sharp pointed article, and possession of a controlled class C drug.
Magistrates told him they needed to know more about him and adjourned his case for an all-options pre-sentence report.
That means he could be jailed when he returns to the same court to be sentenced on Tuesday, August 18.
Mr Ali said: “At approximately 11.40am the officer was on mobile patrol with a colleague.
“They were travelling on Newcastle Road when they saw the defendant walking away from the main entrance of the store with a basket of groceries in a suspicious manner.
“An officer entered the store, and it was confirmed by the store that there was a shoplifting.
“The defendant was chased by the officers and caught. He was still in possession of the stolen products. They were valued at £39.65.
“He was cautioned and arrested on suspicion of shoplifting. He was searched and during that search, they located a lock knife.
“A quantity of tablets was found in his pocket. They were zopiclone, there were four white tablets.
“The most serious of the matters is the possession of the bladed article, which has a starting point of six months custody, up to one year.”
The court heard McGow has two previous convictions, the last in December 2016.
Geoffrey Forrester, defending, asked magistrates to adjourn so that a report into McGow to be prepared.
He said: “The defendant is someone with mental health issues and has been diagnosed with ADHD and he suffers from anxiety.
“From talking to him it’s quite clear that he’s struggling with life.”
Ordering the report, Clinton Leeks, chair of the bench, told McGow: “The knife matter puts you at risk of custody and the bench needs to understand more about you.
“It’s notable that you haven’t been before the court for a number of years but these are a trio of things that are ringing alarm bells.”
McGow was granted bail on condition he does not enter any Tesco store in the Northumbria Police force area.