A MAN who “doesn’t understand” why he shoplifts has pleaded guilty in court to stealing knives and a clock from TK Maxx.
Richard O’Sullivan paid for a pair of shoes at the Darlington store but slipped the knives and clock into a shopping bag and tried to leave without paying for them, Darlington Magistrates’ Court heard today (Tuesday, May 7).
Security officers stopped him and recovered the items, worth £45.
Mitigating, Nick Woodhouse said O’Sullivan had mental problems that he was working through with a psychiatric nurse.
“He doesn’t understand why he does this shoplifting thing,” he said.
“He bought a pair of shoes in the same transaction.”
The court heard that O’Sullivan, 41, of Eaglesdene, Hetton-le-Hole, was already under a 12-month supervision order imposed in March for a similar offence.
Magistrates agreed to let that order continue and gave O’Sullivan a six-month conditional discharge.
They also ordered him to pay £85 court costs and £15 victim surcharge.
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