A THIEF who stole lighters and laundry products from a budget store was ‘going through a rough patch’, a court heard.
Mark Eland, 32, walked into Home Bargains in Workington on the afternoon of July 9 and picked up items including washing powder, laundry beads and a pack of lighters.
He then left the store, making no attempt to pay, Workington Magistrates’ Court heard.
Pamela Fee, prosecuting, said the defendant was identified from CCTV footage. The stolen items were not recovered.
John Cooper, defending, said: “He’s gone through a rough patch. He can’t give a good reason why he has gone in there. The items he has taken are for himself. He has gone home and used them.
“It’s relatively low value items.”
Eland, of Coronation Drive, Slaterbeck, Workington, pleaded guilty to theft from a shop.
Magistrates fined the defendant £80 and ordered him to pay £40.99 in compensation to Home Bargains. He must also pay £85 costs and a £32 victim surcharge.
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