High street chain Wilko has banned a man from all of its stores for repeatedly stealing toiletries.
James Bronco Doherty, 58, stole £264 worth of beauty products including Lynx items and Nivea creams.
On April 18, Doherty of took 20 boxes of men’s Lynx products while four days later he walked away with 13 boxes of Nivea cream at the same shop.
He returned to the store on May 2 and stole 11 boxes of Nivea cream and on June 10 helped himself again to boxes of men’s Nivea cream, prosecutor Joanne Cronshaw told Blackburn Magistrates’ Court.
Doherty of Barlow Street, Accrington, pleaded guilty to four offences of shoplifting from Wilko, reports Lancs Live.
Miss Cronshaw, said: “None of the items have been recovered. When interviewed by police he was co-operative and told them he had stolen the items to sell and fund his drug habit.”
The court heard that Doherty had 53 previous convictions for 97 offences, several of them for theft matters.
As well as pleading guilty to four charges of theft, Doherty also admitted breaching a 12-month conditional discharge which was imposed on him on January 29 by magistrates in Blackpool.
Phillip Turner, defending, said when he had seen Doherty a week earlier he had presented in ‘a poor state and didn’t care whether he went to prison or not’.
He said: “He told me he had been sleeping in shop doorways and occasionally at his brother’s who would feed him.
“His benefits had been stopped and he was without money.
“He has now secured a tenancy and has brought that agreement to court today.
“Prior to this spree he had gone from the end of 2017 to early 2019 without offending. That shows he can keep himself out of trouble.”
District Judge James Clarke said the fact that there had been a recent gap in his record meant he would impose a community order on Doherty for 12 months.
He must also attend 15 rehabilitation activity requirement days, complete a nine-month drug rehabilitation order and pay compensation to Wilko of £264.
Judge Clarke added: “You are also barred from entering any Wilko store for the next 12 months.”
