A Milford man charged with shoplifting who then damaged a police cell after his arrest, has been fined in court.
Thirty-nine-year-old Stephen John McHugh, of Priory Road, pleaded guilty to damaging a police cell to the value of £132; stealing bedding valued at £19.99 from Home Bargains, and food items from the One Best Store, when he appeared at Haverfordwest Magistrates Court on Tuesday.
Prosecutor Ellie Morgan told the court that Mr. McHugh entered the Home Bargains store at around 2.40 pm on May 4, with a friend.
“Both were intoxicated and went into the bedding area of the store and took items without paying for them,” she explained.
“Both men were arrested after being identified on CCTV. On the same day at around 7.30 pm, Mr. McHugh entered the One Best Store.
“He had his hood up and concealed food items such as meat and cheese, as well as toiletries, before walking out the store without paying.
“After his further arrest, at the police cell he was issued with an anti self harm suit, but took a dislike to the procedure, and spat repeatedly at the CCTV camera and walls of he cell,” added Ms Morgan.
Defence solicitor Jonathan Webb told the court that his client had been out with others and had become “very, very drunk” before committing the acts of theft.
“He has controlled his alcoholism for some time, and has been out of court since a custodial sentence in 2014 for burglary.
“Unfortunately Mr. McHugh has received some bad news of late and been hitting the bottle a little bit too hard and reverted to the type of person he once was,” explained Mr. Webb.
Magistrates fined Mr. McHugh £92 for damaging the cell and ordered him to pay compensation of £132 to Dyfed Powys Police.
He was also fined £40 for theft, ordered to pay compensation of £19.99 to Home Bargains, court costs of £85 and a £30 victim surcharge.