South Yorkshire thief stole Boots' cosmetics to buy drugs

Sheffield Magistrates’ Court heard how Stephen Taylor, aged 44, of Greasborough Road, Parkgate, Rotherham, stole cosmetics from a Boots’ store at Parkgate Retail World, Rotherham.

Robert Coyne, prosecuting, told the January 23 hearing Taylor concealed £221 of cosmetics in his coat and attempted to leave the store without paying but he was stopped by security staff.

Taylor admitted to police he uses cannabis paying £50-a-week and he dabbles with heroin and cocaine.

He pleaded guilty to the theft from December 21 and admitted breaching a 12-month conditional discharge imposed for a theft from Asda.

David Lockhart, defending, said jobless Taylor’s offending has reduced but he would have used money from the sale of stolen items to buy cannabis.

Taylor was sentenced to a community order with a 28-day curfew. He must pay £85 costs and a £90 victim surcharge.