A SHOPLIFTER insisted that the bottles of gin he had stolen from Booths supermarket had been reduced in price.

Ryan Heywood, 39, admitted to the theft of five bottles from the Settle store on July 30 when he appeared at Skipton Magistrates Court, but disputed the value.

Instead of the £145 said by the supermarket, he said they had been on the promotional table and had been just £15 each.

The court heard that Heywood had been recorded on the store’s CCTV cameras acting ‘furtively’ at the entrance before putting the five bottles into his bag and leaving without paying or being stopped. The bottles had not been recovered, the court heard on Friday. 

Heywood, who admitted theft, did not dispute taking the gin, but insisted they had been reduced in price, the court heard.

Mitigating, Mohammed Hussain said Heywood had taken the alcohol because he needed money.

He was struggling to cope because 20 percent of his benefits were being taken from him to pay fines for previous fines totalling £1,500.

Mr Hussain said Heywood had been a drug addict for many years but in recent times had managed to keep his addiction under control and was receiving counselling.

Magistrates ordered Heywood, of Delaney Court, Settle, to pay compensation of £75 to the supermarket and gave him a 12 month conditional discharge. There was no order for costs or surcharge.