Shoplifter from King's Lynn also guilty of breaching Covid regulations

A Lynn man went on a shoplifting spree to fund his rekindled drug habit, a court heard.

Martin Fox, 41, stole from Boots in the town centre four times in 10 days in January, taking make-up and medicines.

The total amounts varied from £16 to more than £100 and on a couple of occasions the goods were recovered.

On the fifth occasion, on February 23, he stole make-up worth £156 and again he was caught and the products recovered.

At Lynn Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, Fox, of Shiregreen, pleaded guilty to five counts of shop theft.

He also admitted breaching coronavirus regulations by being outside his home without reasonable excuse on January 22 and twice breaching a 12-month conditional discharge imposed last December for possession of heroin.

In mitigation, solicitor Tiffany Meredith said there was a history of heroin usage by her client and the thefts were to fund that habit.

“There was a significant gap [in offending] from 2007 to very recently,” she added. “He attributes this to the relationship with his former partner. He was not taking drugs so he can prove he can go without.

“Unfortunately the relationship foundered and he went back to drugs use.”

The court was told that Fox was now on a script under alcohol and drug support provider CGL.

Fox was given an 18-month community order with requirements of 20 rehabilitation activity requirement days, a thinking skills programme and a 12-month drug rehabilitation requirement.

He was fined £200 for the Covid regulations breach and ordered to pay £75 compensation to Boots.