A man in Leicestershire has pleaded guilty to shoplifting incidents at two retail outlets, including a Valentine's Day theft from Tesco. Kieran Chandler, 28, was apprehended after fleeing a Tesco store in The Square, Countesthorpe, with flowers, beers, and whisky mixers. The theft occurred in February 2023 when Chandler reportedly realised he had forgotten his bank card and decided to leave the store without paying for the items.
A member of the store's staff had grown suspicious of Chandler, leading to his hasty exit. Following his arrest for a separate offence, Chandler was recognised from CCTV footage at the Tesco location. At Leicester Magistrates' Court, he acknowledged his wrongdoing, admitting guilt to the theft at Tesco as well as an earlier incident involving the theft of £277 worth of washing products from Lush in the Highcross shopping centre in Leicester city centre, which took place in November 2022.
During the court proceedings, Chandler explained his actions, stating that he had taken the washing products for personal use, insisting, "I didn't know they were so expensive." Representing Chandler, Amena Aijaz highlighted that the items stolen from Tesco were intended for his partner as part of a Valentine's Day gift and that he consumed the beer himself. Aijaz further pointed out that Chandler is presently a full-time carer for his mother, who has alcohol-related issues, and he helps her with daily activities.
Chandler, who resides on Queens Park Way in Eyres Monsell, Leicester, has a record of 16 previous offences, but notably, his last court appearance was in 2017. His current situation has prompted him to seek employment, as he aims to rectify his circumstances. The magistrates heard that he was willing to compensate both Lush and Tesco for their losses.
After considering his case, the magistrates imposed a fine of £114 and mandated Chandler to pay £12 in compensation to Tesco and £277 to Lush. Jane Hanson, the chairman of the bench, expressed concern over Chandler's return to offending after a lengthy period, stating, "We hope this is a blip. Please don't make this the first of another spate of offending."
Source: Noah Wire Services