A prolific shoplifter has been ordered to repay the cost of the stolen goods after he admitted targeting two stores on several occasions.

Kavan Conroy was confronted by staff in the stores but refused to put the stolen goods back before walking out of the Morrisons Local and Bargain Buys in Newton Aycliffe.

Newton Aycliffe Magistrates’ Court heard how the 21-year-old was stealing goods to sell on to pay for his crack cocaine addiction.

Lesley Burgess, prosecuting, said: “The defendant is either seen on CCTV or he is approached by staff as the offences are going on.

“He is asked to put them back - at no point did he put anything back or was anything recovered.”

The court heard how Conroy stole £333.95 worth of goods from Morrisons Local and £45 worth of goods from Bargain Buys.

Conroy, of Sampson Place, Newton Aycliffe, pleaded guilty to five counts of shoplifting in January and February this year at both stores in the town.

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Heather Bolton, mitigating, said the Newton Aycliffe man stole the goods in an attempt to fund his crack cocaine habit.

She added: “At the time he was living with his father and people who he owed money to were going to his father’s house.

“He did feel that he was put under some pressure in order to repay his debts to the people he had borrowed money from.”

Alan Adams, chairman of the magistrates’ bench, ordered Conroy to repay the cost of the stolen goods and pay £111 towards court costs.