Shoplifter stole chocolate and meat (From Malvern Gazette)

Shoplifter stole chocolate and meat

8:00am Wednesday 8th February 2012 in News

A DRUNK shoplifter stole meat and chocolate from a supermarket and then took a swing at the store detective who tried to stop him.

Adrian Davies, aged 36, of Gloucester Close, Malvern, admitted theft and failure to attend court at an earlier hearing when he appeared before magistrates in Worcester.

The court was told Davies stole the meat and chocolate worth £3.18 from Morrisons in Malvern on December 27 and failed to attend court on January 10 to answer the theft charge.

Liam Finch, prosecuting, said: “This is a straightforward, if clumsy, attempt at shoplifting. The defendant was drunk.

“He was aggressive to the store detective and took a swing at him but missed. The goods were recovered.”

Mr Finch said Davies had a substantial history of offending, but had been out of trouble for some time.

Paul Stanley, defending, said Davies was a former heroin addict who had had a long-term relationship with a woman who died two years ago and who had kept him “on the straight and narrow”

before her death. He handed himself in as soon as he realised he had missed his court hearing.

Davies was ordered to pay costs of £85 and a victim surcharge of £15.