Today we name five people who have appeared in court during the last weeks for shoplifting in Darlington and County Durham.

They were all charged with theft from a shop and received a wide range of sentences after appearing in Newton Aycliffe Peterlee Magistrates' Court.

Pleas of guilty were entered in all the cases. 

Amber Templeton, 23, of Darlington Road, Ferryhill, has been given a conditional discharge after pleading guilty to stealing items including meat, confectionery, laundry, and coffee products from various shops.

The thefts took place between January 21 and February 2, 2024. The shoplifting spree resulted in losses amounting to £176.55 to shops including Aldi and Co-op Food.

Templeton was handed an 18-month conditional discharge and ordered to pay compensation for the goods she stole.

Kris Bewick, 43, of Orchard Street, Pelton, Chester le Street, pleaded guilty to stealing £352 worth of men's hygiene products from a Sainsbury's store in Durham on March 19. He was fined £40,  and ordered to pay £85 in costs, along with a £16 surcharge.

A man has been given a conditional discharge after stealing £100 worth of chicken from an Iceland Foods store in Darlington.

Daniel Smith, 35, of Victoria Road, Darlington, pleaded guilty to stealing £100 worth of chicken from an Iceland Foods store in Darlington on April 7.

He was ordered to pay compensation of £33 and given aq six-month conditional discharge. He was also ordered to pay £310 cost to the Crown Prosecution Service.

Jason Davison, 31, of Grange Villa, pleaded guilty to six counts of shop thefts totalling a value of £642, from County Durham supermarkets between February and April.

Items stolen included alcohol, perfume, clothing and household detergents from stores such as Tesco, Sainsbury's and T J Hughes.

According to court records, Davison demonstrated a 'flagrant disregard for people and their property', justifying the need for a custodial sentence. He was sentenced to a total of 32 weeks in jail. 

Crake Fishwick, 29, of Helford Road, Peterlee, admitted eight counts of theft from local stores totalling over £173 during March and April.

The thefts involved a range of goods from Easter eggs to washing products, belonging to Sainsbury's, Morrisons Daily and Nisa Stores.

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He was ordered to reimburse £20 for the Easter eggs stolen on March 12, £23.25 for further Easter egg thefts on March 27, and £44 for stealing chocolates and coffee from Sainsbury's on April 13.

He was also ordered to pay £40 for stealing washing products theft from Morrisons Daily, as well as £8 for steak and Lurpak butter stolen from Sainsbury's.

No order for costs was imposed.