Whitehaven widow left fearful after thief stole her purchasing and money

Neil Fisher, 56, stole the bag after the lady left it unattended following a go to to the Market Place Costa café, Carlisle’s Rickergate Magistrates’ Court docket was informed. He pleaded responsible to theft.

Prosecutor George Shelley stated the sufferer was a 76-year-old girl who had been within the city centre purchasing. “She’d been to the financial institution and withdrawn £200,” stated Mr Shelley. “She had additionally purchased some meals.

It was after she realised her bag was left unattended for a brief interval in Costa Espresso that she returned to her seat and realised the bag was lacking. The defendant was recognized when the CCTV from the café was reviewed.

“He was recognized leaving the realm with the bag and duly arrested,” stated Mr Shelley. “He denied it when he was interviewed and stated he had no cash. However whereas he was in custody, he was proven the CCTV and accepted he stole the bag.

“However he stated that he didn’t know the cash was within the bag.”

The court docket heard that the defendant, of Peter Avenue, Whitehaven, has seven offences on his legal document, together with one offence of theft. Mr Shelley confirmed that the meals that was within the purchasing stolen purchasing bag was recovered at Fisher’s flat.

The court docket heard a abstract of the assertion made by the sufferer. She informed police: “I’ve simply misplaced my husband and it has been troublesome because of the time of yr. I’m fearful that can lose my independence.

“I’ll now be very cautious of going out alone and I really feel that I might want to depend on my two sons.”

Kate Hunter, for Fisher, stated the defendant’s offence had been “opportunistic”. The lawyer stated: “He’s very clear that he didn’t know there was cash within the bag. He meant taking the bag as a result of there was meals in it.”

A single man, with well being points, Fisher’s actions that day had successfully been “out of character,” stated Miss Hunter, noting that instances had been tight and the defendant had merely needed the bag of meals.

Magistrates imposed an £80 high-quality, with £85 prices and a £32 sufferer surcharge. Fisher should pay the pensioner compensation  of £200 to cowl the stolen cash.

As he left the dock, the defendant stated: “I’m very sorry and I apologise.”