North Lynn man given suspended sentence for shop thefts
A North Lynn man who stole gifts from three shops in the town was trying to provide Christmas presents for his family, a court has heard.
Jordan Reece Lawson was charged with thefts from Home Bargains, Boots and QD Stores. The offences happened while he was the subject of a conditional discharge for a shoplifting matter in May.
Lynn magistrates were told on Monday that 20-year-old Lawson had never been in trouble before that point.
Prosecuting, Jane Walker said on October 20 at Home Bargains on St Nicholas Retail Park, Lawson went to the toy area, placed items worth £13.98 in his own bag and walked out without making any attempt to pay.
And just after 3pm on November 21, a female went into Boots, picked up cosmetics totalling £137.50.
Miss Walker said: “The female then passed them to the defendant who was waiting outside the Boots store doors. Both fled and the defendant was arrested the following day.”
A search of Lawson’s property turned up a small quantity of cannabis.
Then on December 3 a shop worker in QD Stores noticed him with a female who walked away.
Lawson picked up a Beyonce Shimmering Heat gift set and Lynx Africa gift set (total value £19.98) and left without paying.
Miss Walker said: “He was identified from CCTV and arrested in Railway Road. He said he was looking for Christmas presents for his family. He said he had been upset about hearing other people talking about buying Christmas presents.”
Reece pleaded guilty to three counts of theft and one charge of possession of a controlled class B drug. He also admitted breaching the conditional discharge and a community order given in August for threatening behaviour.
Mitigating, Tiffany Meredith said Lawson suffered from anxiety and depression and had cut down his drug use “considerably”.
She added: “He has reinstated some family relationships and was taking the products for Christmas presents.”
Magistrates revoked the previous order and re-sentenced Lawson, of Woolstencroft Avenue, North Lynn, to six weeks’ custody, suspended for 12 months. Compensation was ordered to be paid to the three shops.
