A THIEF who stole booze and is regularly seen slumped over empty bottles in church grounds has been banned from stores and drinking in public.

Mark Clark, 53, of no fixed abode, was given a three-year criminal behaviour order after admitting five charges of theft from a shop and one charge of attempted theft from a shop.

Outlining the case at Workington Magistrates’ Court, prosecutor Pamela Fee said Clark entered Morrisons in Whitehaven on June 19 and stole a bottle of vodka worth £18.

He covered the security tag with tin foil and then left with the bottle in his jacket, without paying.

Then on June 20, he stole a bottle of vodka worth £20 from B&M in Whitehaven. He placed the item in a bag and concealed it in his jacket.

Three hours later, he went to B&M again and stole another bottle of alcohol worth £20, placing the item in his jacket.

Later that day, he went to Morrisons in Whitehaven and stole a crate of Stella worth £12 and left, making no attempt to pay.

He then attempted to steal another crate of Stella from Morrisons worth £15 but was challenged by a member of staff.

On June 21, he stole a bottle of gin worth £16.99 from B&M in Whitehaven. He was stopped by a member of staff and the bottle fell from the defendant’s jacket.

The court heard that Clark had been drunk in St Nicholas’ Gardens in Whitehaven where he is regularly seen slumped over empty bottles of alcohol.

Ms Fee said there had been an increase in anti-social behaviour in the church gardens, which had been exacerbated by Clark. He had been seen lying on the ground, having consumed large amounts of alcohol.

John Cooper, for Clark, addressed the terms of the criminal behaviour order set out by the prosecution, which included not to be drunk in a public place.

Mr Cooper said under the terms of the order, Clark could go to the pub to get drunk but couldn’t leave because he would be drunk in a public place.

He said if the defendant had a drink in the house, he would be unable to get his medication because he would be drunk in public.

Magistrates granted the criminal behaviour order with the following conditions:

  • not to enter any shop which is part of the Whitehaven Shopwatch Scheme
  •  not to be in possession of any unsealed alcohol in any public place, except from inside a licenced premises
  • not to be drunk in a public place in Cumbria
  • not to be together in a public place with two or more people, behaving in a manner likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress

Clark was fined £180 and ordered to pay a total of £68.99 in compensation. He must pay £85 costs and a £48 victim surcharge.