Thief raided South Tyneside shop to feed partner's alcohol addiction
A thief who hid cider in his bag before fleeing a South Tyneside store could not conceal his identity from security cameras, a court heard.
Liam Askew, 39, took two £5 bottles of plonk from the shelves of B&M’s outlet at Jarrow’s Viking Precinct and left without paying on Monday, July 22.
But a witness tipped off staff who checked CCTV and Askew, of Beach Road, South Shields, was later arrested, prosecutor Rehana Haque said.
When detained on Friday, September 20, in Sunderland, he was in possession of a small stash of a white powder which he admitted was illegal amphetamine.
Magistrates in South Tyneside were told Askew’s crimes arose from pressure placed on him by a woman with a booze problem he was dating.
Mrs Haque told the hearing: “A member of staff was informed by a witness that a male customer had walked out of the store with a bag full of products.
“CCTV was reviewed, and it showed the defendant selecting two bottles of cider and concealing them in a bag and walking out.
“Police found a small wrap of a white powder which he admitted was amphetamine.
“In interview he made no comment, but he has pleaded guilty to the offences at court.”
Askew pleaded guilty to charges of theft from a shop and the attempted possession of a controlled class B drug.
The court heard he has nine previous convictions from 17 offences, including two drugs’ matters, with his last crime in 2022.
He also owes over £3,000 in fines and costs from previous court-related matters.
Angus Westgarth, defending, said: “He’s not heavily convicted and has pleaded guilty at the first opportunity.
“At the time he was in a relationship with a lady and that had been going on for some two years.
“She was alcohol dependent, and he had been put under some pressure to commit the offences.”
Magistrates ordered Askew to pay £10 compensation to B&M and fined him £80 for the drugs matter, with £85 court costs and a £32 victim surcharge.