A Newcastle shoplifter with 157 previous offences was caught walking down a busy city centre street carrying a basket of stolen goods moments after targeting a supermarket. Dylan Curry, 31, went into Tesco on Saville Row and took £79.85-worth of meat, loading it into a handbasket and leaving without paying, prosecutors said.
Caught on Grey Street
Police were called and Curry was identified from CCTV, but an officer spotted him walking along Grey Street before he could get away. Clare Haswell, prosecuting, said: "The defendant was walking towards Market Street, still carrying the basket with the stolen goods inside."An officer drove passed him and he made-off with the basket. However, he was detained and the basket of stolen goods was recovered."
157 offences on record
Newcastle Magistrates' Court heard that Curry, who was jailed in 2025 for assaulting a garage worker while stealing alcohol and sweets, had 157 offences on his record, including 69 for theft. He was also last in court in August for being drunk and disorderly.
Michael Crowe, defending, said: "He is one of life's unfortunates. He had a difficult upbringing and struggles with literacy. He's on the streets and has been for some time."
Conditional discharge
Curry, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to one count of shop theft and was given a six-month conditional discharge, with £85 costs and a £26 victim surcharge.
