A man who moved away from the Pembroke area in a bid to kick his alcoholism, has appeared in court after pleading guilty to stealing a bottle of wine.
Forty-seven-year-old Justin Taylor, of Kedington, Suffolk, appeared at Haverfordwest Magistrates Court on Tuesday, to admit the theft of a £4.99 bottle of wine from the Co-op store in Pembroke.
Prosecutor Vaughan Pritchard-Jones told the court that Mr. Taylor went into the store on Main Street at around 9.40 pm, on March 23, wearing a jacket with nothing underneath it.
“The store employee thought he looked a bit strange, and CCTV revealed that Mr. Taylor put the bottle under his jacket. Police attended and recognised the defendant from the CCTV footage, but by the time they spoke to him, the bottle of wine had already gone,” he explained.
Defence solicitor Katy Hanson told magistrates that Mr. Taylor had moved away from the Pembroke area and back to where he was brought up.
“Prior to moving away he’d had a nervous breakdown and tried to commit suicide, and turned to alcohol.
“The move has done him a lot of good and he is going to AA meetings and getting the help he needs.
“He has found it emotionally very difficult coming back here today. He accepted that it was him and has travelled over 300 miles to come to court.
“It is clear that he is remorseful for the offence, which took place during some dark times,” added Ms Hanson.
Magistrates gave Mr. Taylor a 12 month conditional discharge and ordered him to pay compensation of £4.99 to the Co-op store.
He was also ordered to pay prosecution costs of £85 and a £20 victim surcharge.