A WORKINGTON man who was originally accused of robbing a store worker of meat has admitted charges of theft and affray.

Philip Holm, 41, committed the affray after stealing meat from an Iceland store in Workington on September 17, Carlisle Crown Court heard. He pleaded guilty to both offences. The store involved was Iceland in Pow Street, Workington.

The value of the meat stolen was £90.

The defendant, of Harrington Road, Workington, had earlier denied the robbery and the prosecution has now accepted that plea.

Judge Nicholas Barker said that Holm’s history of offending over the last four years – which included convictions for theft and the possession of controlled drugs – had not been as active as in previous years.

Thus the defendant was entitled to have a background Probation Service report before he is sentenced, said the judge.

News and Star: Iceland, Pow Street, Workington. (Picture: Google Maps).Iceland, Pow Street, Workington. (Picture: Google Maps). (Image: Google)

Holm also admitted failing to surrender to the court for a scheduled hearing on November 7, but the defendant’s defence lawyer Sean Harkin said his client missed that hearing because he had found a flatmate hanging shortly before he was due to appear at the court.

No further details of what happened were revealed in court.

Adjourning the sentence hearing until January 4, Judge Nicholas Barker said the defendant could have bail but a condition will be that he must observe an electronically monitored curfew, running each day from 8pm to 7am.

The defendant spoke only to enter his pleas and to confirm his pleas.