'Desperate' couple from Great Massingham stole from Asda

A mature couple with money worries were caught stealing more than £300 of goods from Asda in South Wootton.

Russell and Narinph Fishwick paid for some items at the checkout but pushed through a trolley containing many more unpaid items.

“When staff made enquiries with them, the amount of £329.38 of goods were found,” prosecutor Denise Holland told Lynn Magistrates’ Court on Thursday.

“In statements, they made reference to debt. The goods were all recovered.”

Russell Fishwick, 73, and Narinph Fishwick, 58, each pleaded guilty to theft in the incident on March 23, 2021.

Andrew Cogan, mitigating, said: “The long and short of it is they were driven to this desperate measure of stealing from Asda.

“Clearly they hadn’t realised how good the CCTV was.

“Life is very tough for them financially. Mrs Fishwick is not in work and Mr Fishwick has a state pension.”

Both defendants, of Summerwood Estate, Great Massingham, were given six-month conditional discharges and ordered to pay £22 victim surcharge. There was no order made for costs.