Laura Bagshaw A SHOPLIFTER who brazenly walked out of a supermarket carrying a TV was jailed for 12 weeks. Craig Boulstridge, 31, of Queens Road, Great Yarmouth appeared before the town's magistrates last Thursday and pleaded guilty to two counts of shoplifting and allowing himself to be carried in a stolen car.

Laura Bagshaw

A SHOPLIFTER who brazenly walked out of a supermarket carrying a TV was jailed for 12 weeks.

Craig Boulstridge, 31, of Queens Road, Great Yarmouth appeared before the town's magistrates last Thursday and pleaded guilty to two counts of shoplifting and allowing himself to be carried in a stolen car.

The court heard that on February 21 this year Boulstridge, along with another man, went into Sainsbury's in Norwich and stole a Sony Bravia LCD TV worth almost £500.

Prosecuting, Conrad Shaw said the defendant was seen carrying the TV out of the store and getting into a Ford Escort, which police later discovered had been stolen. Mr Shaw said that Boulstridge's DNA was found in the car and that he had been caught on the supermarket's CCTV stealing the TV, although during police interview he declined to answer any questions.

The court also heard that on August 23 Boulstridge stole clothing worth £285 from John Lewis in Norwich.

Mr Shaw explained that Boulstridge had gone into the menswear section, pulled four shirts off hangers, put them in his jacket and left without paying.

Store detectives spotted Boulstridge and followed him out of the store where, after challenging him, they found the shirts. Police were called and Boulstridge initially gave officers false details but his identity was later confirmed when police checked ID on him. He pleaded guilty to the offence but again gave no comment during police interview.

Mitigating, Rob New said Boulstridge had no income whatsoever and branded his shoplifting offences as “simple and unsophisticated.”

Mr New said Boulstridge had carried out the offences to pay for drugs but added he had addressed these issues during a “considerable amount of time in custody”.

Magistrates sentenced Boulstridge to a total of 12 weeks' imprisonment. No order was made for costs and compensation because of his means.