A HOMELESS man stole alcohol and food to the value of £17.10 from Marks and Spencer in Skipton after he fell asleep on the train and missed his stop, heard magistrates.
Mark O’Rourke, 56, should have got off at Keighley but ended up in Skipton on August 8.
He went into Marks and Spencer, put a number of items in a basket and left. Staff called the police and O’Rourke was found at the bus station. The items were all recovered, the Skipton court heard on Friday.
O’Rourke, admitted shop theft and being in breach of a conditional discharge, imposed by Leeds Magistrates for stealing three cans of alcohol from Sainsburys, Leeds, to the value of £6.60.
In mitigation, Mohammed Hussain, said O’Rourke was a vulnerable alcoholic who had been apologetic once he had sobered up. The court heard O’Rourke could drink six cans of Special Brew and two bottles of wine a day. He had 54 previous convictions and a poor record of compliance with previous community orders, including breaches.
Born in Pontefract, he was a former miner who following the closure of the pits had become a security guard, the court was told. Following a divorce, his life had spiralled out of control as he became reliant on drugs and alcohol.
O’Rourke was given a 12 month community order with six months alcohol treatment programme to address his drinking and up to 10 rehabilitation activity requirement days aimed at addressing his homelessness. He will also have to pay a £90 surcharge, but no costs.
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