A ONCE prolific offender, who has stayed out of trouble in recent years, has been back before the courts for stealing a parcel.
Paul Standen admitted theft by finding when he appeared at Worcester Magistrates Court on Thursday, (September 1) - but claimed he took the parcel to prevent it being stolen by someone else.
Magistrates also heard it had been Paul Standen's daughter who helped police catch him.
Mehree Kamranfar, prosecuting, said victim Darren Moore had a notification from Amazon on November 13 last year that his parcel had been delivered, but when he returned to his Malvern home it wasn't there.
The prosecutor said, after checking his doorbell footage, he saw a man had walked to the front door, taking a leaflet and the parcel - which contained dog bowls worth £8.70.
The parcel was never recovered.
"The complainant posted images of the defendant (on social media), a member of the public gave his name," Ms Kamranfar said.
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"She stated she was his daughter and was ashamed of his behaviour."
The court heard that, in police interview, Standen, who has 68 convictions including one for fraud, had said there had been a thief in the area at the time so he took the parcel to keep it safe.
Standen, who represented himself, told magistrates: "I saw a couple of lads with parcels.
"I picked the parcel up to hide it.
"I had a diabetic attack and forgot all about it, the police arrested me.
"I told the police officer where it was."
The court clerk told the magistrates Standen had been a regular to the courts in the past, with no offending since 2019.
Dean Johnson, the chairman of the magistrates bench, asked Standen what he had been doing in the last few years, Standen replying he had been getting himself better and fitter.
Magistrates say they will give Paul Standen 'a chance' after staying out of trouble
After short deliberations, the chairman said the bench had decided to give Standen a six-month conditional discharge.
The chairman said: "We are taking a chance the good work of the last two years will continue."
Standen was ordered to pay £8.70 compensation and victim surcharge of £22.
The £30.70 total was added to the £1,382 Standen already owes the courts.
Standen featured in the Worcester News in 2019 when he was homeless living in the shelters in Priory Park.
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