Benjamin Quaye, of Mount Pleasant Road, Hastings, admitted in Hastings Magistrate Court to two counts of shop theft, including one, from Boots in Bexhill on 20th February 2024, which his defence claimed had been motivated by an upset partner who he had failed to buy a Valentine’s gift for.
In this case the theft was of cosmetics valued at £290 – which he was ordered to repay to the store in compensation as the goods had never been recovered.
The second theft took place on 16th October at M&S in Hastings, when Quaye admitted to stealing two items of clothing valued at £75, which, he claimed, were things he felt he needed because the weather was getting colder.
He was arrested at the time for this offence and the good were returned to the store.
The court was told Quaye had 20 prior convictions for 42 offences and was currently under a 12-month conditional discharge.
In his defence, his representative in court explained that he was suffering from financial difficulties due to various injuries making it hard for him to work. However, when discussing possible sentencing Quaye did state that if he was ordered to do unpaid work, he could do what were described as ‘light duties.’
In considering a suitable sentence the magistrate made it quite clear to Quaye that it was totally unacceptable for him to feel he could just take things without paying simply because he wanted to give someone a present.
The order for 80 hours of unpaid work was made on the condition that if medical grounds were later used to avoid this then an alternative sentence would be considered.
