Pensioner stole from Louth charity shops

A pensioner who stole CDs from two Louth charity shops, has told magistrates that he was under '˜a lot of stress' because of his '˜very difficult' father.
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John Taylor, 65, of Mill Lane, Addlethorpe, admitted stealing CDs worth a total of almost £14 from the Age UK and the British Heart Foundation charity shops on the afternoon of December 5 last year, when he appeared at Skegness Magistrates’ Court on February 2.

Marie Stace, prosecuting, said that at 3pm a police officer was informed by staff at the Age UK shop in Eastgate that a man had been seen to steal CDs from the shop and the officer then found the man in the neighbouring British Heart Foundation shop.

He told the officer that he had enough money to pay for the CDs but was suffering from a lot of stress.

The court was told Taylor had a conditional discharge for theft in 2013 which was now expired.

Taylor, who was not represented, told the court he was ‘sorry and ashamed’.

“This is not the first time I have been before a court,” he said “but I was never in trouble until my 63rd year.

“I have a father who is very difficult and has caused me a lot of stress.”

He told the magistrates he had been on medication which had made him feel good but he had stopped taking it as he felt he was becoming addicted.

“This was not for financial gain,” he added.

The magistrates imposed another 12 month conditional discharge and ordered him to pay £100 in costs and charges.