Crunch victim stole booze

A middle-aged man who had fallen on hard times in the credit crunch was caught stealing booze from a supermarket.

William Davies (52), of School Road, Oldham walked into Sainsburys in Oldham at around 8pm on December 8 last year.

He was monitored on CCTV by a security guard who watched as Davies filled his trolley with £20 of booze and then left the store without paying.

Police were called and he was arrested. During a search, a pepper spray canister was found in his pocket

Miss Jennifer Birch, for the prosecution, told Minshull Street Crown Court, Manchester: “He made full and frank admissions in relation to the theft.

‘’He accepted that he had made no attempt to pay.

“He says that he found the canister the day before.”

Mark Fireman, defending, told the court: “He has been hit by the financial crisis. He was made bankrupt in March and has spent his savings and his wife is not working. Their financial position is very precarious.”

Davies pleaded guilty to possession of an offensive weapon and theft.

He was given a six-month community order and must complete 100 hours of unpaid work.

The judge, Mr Recorder Howard Bentham QC said, “You have fallen on hard times but does not mean you can break the law.”