A FATHER-of-three from the Eden Valley who was trying to support his family while depending on statutory sick pay resorted to shoplifting.

Pub chef Ian Wright, 41, simply could not make ends meet financially after stress prompted him to take a break from his job and he was forced to budget for his family on a third of his usual income, a court heard.

The defendant, of Powsy Sike, Ainstable, admitted four thefts from the Co-op in Appleby over four days earlier this month.

Prosecutor George Shelley outlined the facts at Carlisle’s Rickergate court.

Wright first stole from the store on March 8. Two days later, he stole from the store twice and then again on March 12. On each occasion, he stole food and toiletries, though during two of the thefts he stole alcohol.

He was identified from CCTV images.

The court heard that the defendant’s record comprises 33 previous offences, nine of which were thefts, committed between 1999 and 2003. Since then, Wright had been in court only once and this was for a driving matter.

Mark Shepherd, defending, said of the defendant: “He’s somebody who has not committed a theft offence since 2003. The reason he did it was financial hardship, essentially.”

The lawyer said that Wright had been working “extremely hard” in his work as a chef and his stress levels became so intense that he had to get out of the kitchen, fearing the risk to his mental health if he stayed.

Normally, Wright earned £300 a week and that wage could not be maintained once he took sick leave, thereby reducing his weekly income to £109.

This was simply not enough to feed his family. “He accepts that he took a couple of cans of beer on more than one occasion but he just couldn’t see a way out of the financial mess he was in.

“That is why he behaved in the way he did over a relatively short period.”

The court heard that Wright’s weekly outgoings amounted to £275 and he was able to settle any debt to a court at a rate of £80 per month.

District Judge John Temperley noted that the defendant – apart from the motoring offence – had not been before the court for almost 20 years and said he saw why it was suggested that financial hardship was the offence motive.

He imposed a two-year conditional discharge, which means that Wright will not be punished provided he stays offence free for that period. However, the defendant must pay £85 costs, a £26 surcharge, and compensation of £125 to the Co-op for the stolen goods that were not recovered.

The District Judge accepted the payment offer at a rate of £80 per month.