An alcoholic who made seven separate trips to steal booze from a supermarket 20 miles from his home has appeared in court.
Dominic David Carr, 55, stole bottles of spirits worth hundreds of pounds from Booths in Penrith.
“Essentially, between January 7 and May 7 of this year,” prosecutor George Shelley told Carlisle Magistrates’ Court, “Mr Carr has on various occasions travelled from Carlisle to Penrith, and in particular seven offences are targeted on the Booths store.”
On January 7 and 20, he stole bottles of Grey Goose vodka and packets of razor blades.
On March 24 and 31, and April 14 and 26, he stole more alcohol, including bottles of expensive spirits.
On May 7, Carr stole from both Booths — Grants whisky — and made off with steaks from Penrith’s M&S food hall. The whisky had been recovered on that occasion.
“When the defendant was interviewed following his arrest he admitted all eight offences, accepts he had travelled from Carlisle to Penrith to commit the offences and apologised for his actions,” said Mr Shelley.
In total, £557-worth of stock was stolen from Booths, and items valued at £51.85 from M&S.
The defendant — who admitted eight theft charges — had 44 previous offences to his name.
In court, Carr, of Millholme Avenue, Carlisle, was represented by solicitor Chris Toms.
Carr, he said, had been fairly busy committing crimes between 2011 and 2016, although his most recent conviction before the shoplifting spree dated back to 2020.
“In the last few years he does seem to have been able to pull himself together,” said Mr Toms.
“The motivation for this (latest offending) is purely alcohol consumption.”
Carr was an alcoholic. “There is a degree of planning but the offences themselves are completely unsophisticated. They are walking into the store, taking items and leaving,” the lawyer added.
Magistrates imposed a six-month community order. Carr must undergo three months of alcohol treatment during that time and was fined £40. He must pay compensation in relation to the products he stole.
