A THIEF who also produced cannabis has received a community penalty and been ordered to pay back the shops he stole from. 

Darren Simpson, of Ennerdale Close, Worcester, admitted four charges of theft from a shop and producing a controlled drug of Class B, cannabis, in Worcester in October. 

The 42-year-old's thefts, which all took place in Worcester, were of:

 

  • A black CP Company sweatshirt, valued at £220 from House of Fraser on September 22
  • £400 worth of Airfix models from Hobbycraft on September 11
  • £220 worth of spirits from Tesco on September 7
  • Seven bottles of vodka, worth £247, from Sainsbury's on September 21.

 

Simpson also admitted a charge of producing a controlled drug of Class B.

Worcester News: THIEF: Darren SimpsonTHIEF: Darren Simpson (Image: Sam Greenway/Newsquest)

The court heard Simpson produced a quantity of cannabis in Worcester on September 22.

Sentencing was delayed as Simpson originally denied the theft of art products, valued at £200, from Hobbycraft on September 13. 

But on the day of his trial, on December 4 at Worcester Magistrates Court, Simpson changed his plea to guilty to that offence too. 

Simpson, who put his coat over his head to prevent his face being pictured outside Worcester Magistrates Court after an earlier hearing, returned to the court on December 21 for sentence. 

Ian Latimer, chairman of the magistrates bench, told him he would receive an 18-month community order.

The requirements of the order are Simpson must complete 30 rehabilitation activity requirement days. 

He was ordered to pay £1,076 compensation split between the shops he stole from and fined £80. 

Simpson was told to pay costs of £620 and victim surcharge of £114.

Magistrates agreed the £1,890 total could be deducted from his benefits but ordered he pay £5 weekly if that arrangement was unsuccessful. 

A previous requirement that he must not enter Hobbycraft in Blackpole; Tesco in Millwood Drive; Sainsburys in Windermere Drive and House Of Fraser in Chapel Walk - which had been in place under the terms of his conditional bail - was lifted at the end of the case.