Tesco thief Kyle Francis told court he only stole to eat

Kyle Francis left Tesco Express with a basket of stolen items but ran into a police officer filling up with petrol. He was forced to hand over the goods. 

Francis, of Wylds Lane, claimed the only reason he stole was because he had nothing to eat. 

At Worcester magistrates, Owen Beale, prosecuting, said Francis went to the Tesco Express in London Road on February 12.

"He had a basket full of items," Mr Beale said.

"He tried to run out of the store with the items.

"Unfortunately for him a police officer had just arrived to get petrol. 

"He ran straight into the arms of the officer."

THIEF: Kyle Francis (Image: Sam Greenway/Newsquest)

The prosecutor said he took £30.80 worth of food and drink items and said the crown understood Francis had not stolen the items to sell on. 

Mr Beale said there had been a two-and-a-half-year gap since the 25-year-old's last offence, when he was jailed in 2021. 

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We reported on Francis in 2020 when he was caught stealing knives and grooming products from Wilko and having Class A drugs. 

STORE: Tesco Express London Road (Image: Sam Greenway/Newsquest)

Francis, who defended himself, admitted theft from a store at court on Tuesday, (April 25). 

Francis told the court the "only reason" he stole was because he had received no help from the probation service after coming out of jail.

"I had no money, I was just hungry," Francis said. 

"I gave the stuff back to the officer."

The court heard it was the second hearing of the case but only because Francis had had to leave a previous hearing when a family member with him became unwell.

Carey Leonard, chairman of the magistrates' bench, asked him whether he was on benefits, Francis replied: "Yes."

Following magistrates' deliberations the chairman of the bench announced they had decided to fine Francis £90. 

He was also ordered to pay costs of £135 and a victim surcharge of £32. 

Francis said he still owed around £300 from past offences, and the chairman said the £247 would be added to the total.

Francis was told to speak to the fine collection office after he admitted nothing was currently being paid towards his outstanding fines.