Darren Danks was one of three people who entered Sainsbury's in Jesmond and began taking goods off the shelves. A court heard the trio packed £245.66-worth of steaks and alcohol into boxes before trying to escape. Although they managed to flee the scene, officers identified them from CCTV footage and arrested them a short time later, still in possession of the stolen items.
Court hearing and guilty plea
Danks, who was caught carrying a 6ins knife at Newcastle's Monument two years ago, was the only one of those detained to turn up to his court hearing this week. The 54-year-old, of Vallum Court, in Arthur's Hill, pleaded guilty to one count of shop theft.
James Rickerby, prosecuting at Newcastle Magistrates Court, said Danks and his accomplices went into the Sainsbury's store on September 25 this year. Mr Rickerby continued: "The three individuals were seen by shop workers in the store placing bottles of alcohol and meat into cardboard boxes before leaving without paying."
Offender's background and sentence
The court heard that Danks had 61 offences on his record but had not committed a shop theft since 2010. Ian Hudson, defending, said this type of offending was "out of character". Mr Hudson added: "He's pleaded guilty at the first opportunity. He suffers from borderline personality disorder. Perhaps you could hit him in the pocket for this offence."
Magistrates fined Danks, who already owes more than £3,000 to the courts, £200 and ordered him to pay £85 costs and an £80 victim surcharge.
