Man ‘ashamed and shocked’ by CCTV charity box theft footage

Man ‘ashamed and shocked’ by CCTV charity box theft footage

And the Magistrate’s Court was told that defendant Kevin McCorkell (38), of Kensington Place, was ‘ashamed’ of what he had done and was ‘particularly shocked’ about his actions when he saw himself on CCTV.

Outlining the case, Centenier Tony Batho said that McCorkell took the box on 6 March from Park Stores at Colomberie. He said that the defendant entered into conversation with another man and was in the shop for a few minutes before he put up his hood, picked up the charity box and put it under his coat.

It was estimated that there was probably less than £10 inside and the box itself was worth about £2.

Advocate Rebecca Morley-Kirk, defending, said that her client had contacted the Diabetic Society with an offer to repay the money but had not received a response.

McCorkell had pleaded guilty to the theft at an earlier hearing when he told the court: ‘I cannot remember doing that.’ He said he was under the influence of Valium at the time.

The defendant was also sentenced for stealing a bottle of rum from the Co-op in Don Street on 12 March.

In addition, he admitted three charges of possessing drugs at his home in David Place on 3 November last year. He pleaded guilty to possession of the class C drugs Clonazepam and Testosterone cypionate and the class B controlled drug cannabis. The court heard he used Valium to help him sleep and steroids to help him train.

By admitting the offences McCorkell was in breach of a six-month binding order imposed on 22 November last year for drugs possession.

Advocate Morley-Kirk submitted that a particularly unusual and tragic set of circumstances had befallen the defendant which triggered an unfortunate series of events but no details were given.

She said that the defendant was ashamed about both thefts and was particularly shocked about the theft of the charity box. ‘He made an offer to repay the debt to them such was the level of his remorse,’ she said.

Relief Magistrate Sarah Fitz said the Probation report was very positive and the court was prepared to allow the defendant to be given support to deal with drugs issues.

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