On the morning of 31 August, Andrew Munce stopped his car at Roberts Garage at Bel Royal before going inside and taking 24 cans of Carling beer without paying.
The Magistrate’s Court heard on Tuesday that the 62-year-old had committed several similar offences over the last few years and that on this occasion he had refused to sign a form agreeing that he was willing to undertake community service as a punishment.
Advocate Emma Wakeling said that her client, who pleaded guilty to larceny, was remorseful over his crime and that he was now prepared to do community service as a punishment.
Relief Magistrate Nuno Santos-Costa said that the growing number of thefts were becoming a concern for the court.
‘Although your counsel has shown that you feel remorse and that you think your actions were stupid, the offences do keep repeating themselves,’ he told the offender.
Munce was given a 50-hour community service order and was fined £150 for five outstanding parking tickets.
