Shoplifter stole toiletries and gin in Workington - days after being released from prison

Police were called to Savers in Workington on June 28 after an off-duty police officer witnessed Nicky Hewitson, 34, place toiletries in a bag.

Pamela Fee, prosecuting, said officers attended and arrested Hewitson, who was wanted for an earlier attempt to shoplift from Tesco in Workington.

A shop assistant from Savers said Hewitson had handed her a bag of toiletries and said, “Sorry, I don’t want to get arrested. I only got out on Friday. I have got no money.”

The items, worth £67 were recovered. A £27 bottle of Bombay Sapphire gin from Tesco was also recovered.

Hewitson told police he was going to sell the items to buy food. He said he was dyslexic so didn’t know what he had filled the bag with.

He was shown CCTV from Tesco, but denied it was him, Workington Magistrates’ Court was told.

Ms Fee said he had received a custodial sentence for shoplifting matters and described his record as “pretty appalling”.

John Cooper, defending, said: “He had been struggling for income. He had been living on takeaway food which you can’t really steal. He took the items and was going to sell them to buy food.

“He tells me since he got out he put a claim in for benefits but was told four or five weeks.”

Hewitson’s probation officer said he had been released from prison on Friday but had failed to attend his release appointment.

The defendant, of Roper Street, Workington, pleaded guilty to two charges of theft from a shop.

He told magistrates: “I don’t want to live my life like this. I want to be a normal person.

“I do really, really want to change my life now. If you give me a chance, I will not mess it up.”

Passing sentence, lead magistrate, Kevin Wilderspin, said: “You were released on Friday and you were shoplifting on Tuesday. It’s you that needs to break the cycle, not us.”

Hewitson was sentenced to 28 days in custody. He was ordered to pay £85 costs and a £154 victim surcharge.