Man stole to pay for fare to job interview

A man who was desperate to get employment stole goods to pay for the train fare to a job interview.
Blackpool Magistrates CourtBlackpool Magistrates Court
Blackpool Magistrates Court

Michael Gibbons, now a holiday park worker, 34, of Cocker Street, North Shore, pleaded guilty to theft. He was given a 12 month conditional discharge and ordered to pay £25 compensation with £85 costs plus £15 victims’ surcharge by Blackpool magistrates.

Prosecutor, Pam Smith, said a witness told security staff at Sainsburys, Whitegate Drive, that he had seen Gibbons coming out of the shop with bottles of washing liquid in his jacket on January 6 at 5.45pm. Store CCTV showed him stealing the goods.

When interviewed by police, Gibbons said he had had a job interview in Kirkham but did not have the money to get there, so he took the goods and sold them to get cash.