Magistrates reject shoplifter's "moment of madness" claim (From Surrey Comet)

Magistrates reject shoplifter's "moment of madness" claim

8:00am Tuesday 21st February 2012 in Top stories By David Lindsell

Magistrates have rejected a shoplifter’s claim he had “a moment of madness” after they heard he had pliers stuffed in his coat pocket to evade security.

Sandeep Batth, 24, of Bloxham Crescent, Hampton, admitted stealing two coats from Bentalls and River Island in Kingston and having the pliers to cut off security tags.

Prosecutor Liz West said Batth was caught by security guards at Bentalls on January 30 this year after he went into a cubicle and walked out without paying for a £180 coat.

When he was searched they found pliers and another £45 coat from River Island which he did not have a receipt for.

Batth, who appeared at Lavender Hill Magistrates Court without legal representation on February 14, said: “It was just honestly a moment of madness. I got caught and owned up to my mistake.

“I shouldn’t have done it in the first place."

But lead magistrate Mrs C Jago said: “We have heard what you said about a moment of madness.

"However you did go equipped so it wasn’t something completely unplanned.”

She fined Batth, who had a conditional caution for shoplifting in 2008, £350 in total which he said he was able to pay in full on the day.