CHESTER — A known repeat offender in Chester has admitted to stealing over £400 worth of goods from a retail store and is set to be sentenced next month.
Thomas Forshaw, 33, of Keysbrook in Tattenhall, pleaded guilty at Chester Magistrates Court on Tuesday to one count of theft following a shoplifting incident at Mountain Warehouse on Foregate Street.
Prosecutor Elisha Bethell told the court that on August 3, Forshaw entered the store, took clothing items worth £406.93, and exited without attempting to pay. He was later identified and arrested by police.
Miss Bethell highlighted Forshaw’s extensive criminal history, citing numerous previous theft convictions.
Defence solicitor Chris Hunt acknowledged Forshaw’s record but noted he had only been convicted three times in the last 18 months. He added that Forshaw suffers from a serious brain injury caused by a past car accident, and that on the day of the offence, he was intoxicated and not in a stable mental state.
“This is a one-off now, although it wouldn’t have been a few years ago,” Hunt argued, requesting a fine instead of further punishment.
However, Chairman of the Bench John Rooney rejected the request, pointing to the seriousness of the offence and Forshaw’s criminal record.
“Stealing anything over £400 is a serious offence. But your record is abysmal, and for that reason, we aren’t fining you but are going down the route of a community order,” Rooney said, ordering a pre-sentence report.
Forshaw was granted bail on the condition that he does not enter the Mountain Warehouse store on Foregate Street. He is scheduled to return to court on Tuesday, October 7 for sentencing.
