‘Whoops’ thief caught out at supermarket
A MAN knocked over an elderly woman, a child and supermarket worker when he was caught out paying for full-price goods using reduced labels.
Gary Lee, 33, was attempting to make off with around £40 worth of items - including a hairdryer - which he had paid just £9 for by slapping on ‘whoops’ reduced labels at the Asda store on Barnsley Road, Moorthorpe, on September 17, Pontefract Magistrates’ Court heard on Tuesday.
He paid for the items at the reduced cost but a staff member saw what had happened and confronted him.
Lee, of Carlton Road, Barnsley, then pushed the bag of shopping into the staff member’s chest, causing him to fall backwards, also knocking down an elderly lady and a small child.
He tried to run away but was stopped by members of the public who brought him back to the store.
The lady suffered bruising and the child suffered a lump to the head. The staff worker had a sore chest.
Lee pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to three counts of assault by beating and theft.
Ruth Gill, mitigating, said Lee was sorry for his actions and had some financial difficulties but had wanted to buy the hairdryer as a gift.
She said: “He feels dreadful about what he has done.”
She said he had done it out of ‘stupidity and thoughtlessness’.
Lee must complete 120 hours of unpaid work and pay £150 compensation.
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Wednesday 19 June 2013
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