A Tenby shop assistant failed to fight off a thief who plunged his hand into her till and stole a fistful of cash.
Daniel David Luker, of Marlborough Road, Cardiff, pleaded guilty to stealing a jacket from a shop and £170 cash from another store’s till when he appeared from custody at Haverfordwest magistrates court on Tuesday (July 31).
Vaughan Pritchard-Jones, prosecuting, told the court that Luker, 36, stole a £54 jacket from Jago, Tenby, on July 27.
Luker stated: “It was a stupid thing, but someone bet me £100.”
The theft was captured on CCTV and police caught up with Luker shortly afterwards thanks to a description of his distinctive bleached-blonde hair. He was spoken to by officers and bailed, but went on to commit a burglary in the town two days later.
Camera footage played to the bench showed Luker reaching over the counter in Londis and grabbing at the till.There was a tussle as the shop assistant attempted to remove Luker’s hand, but he was able to grab £170 before leaving the scene.
The court heard that Luker had a large number of relevant previous convictions, and was subject to a suspended sentence at the time of the offences.
He claimed he could not remember the theft because he had been ‘spiked’.
Rebecca Carter, defending, said: “He did not go into the shop intending to harm anyone. He asked her to open the till. She grabbed his hand and he tried to remove it.
“It was not a sophisticated offence, there was little to no planning.”
Miss Carter added that Luker was drunk when he entered the store, but informed magistrates that he wanted to turn his chaotic life around.
The bench heard that he was also in breach of his suspended sentence conditions by staying in Tenby and not at his agreed address.
Magistrates decided their sentencing powers were insufficient and sent the case to be dealt with by Swansea crown court.
Luker will next appear on August 17, he was remanded into custody until his hearing.