Aldi burglar handed himself in after 16 shoplifting offences

Blackburn magistrates heard that at the time Aiden Daly was at a low point in his life and the burglary had been a cry for help.

Daly, 29, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to burglary at Aldi and 16 offences of shoplifting. He was sentenced to 16 weeks in prison suspended for 24 months with 25 days rehabilitation activity requirement, six months drug rehabilitation requirement and 26 day building better choices programme. He was ordered to pay £500 compensation to Aldi.

Graeme Tindall, prosecuting, said that during some of the shoplifting offences Daly had been challenged by staff and had not been particularly pleasant towards them.

Mr Tindall said Daly had managed to pop a window at Aldi and then caused damage to one of the tills while trying to steal a charity box.

"The damage to the till was £2,000 and the damage to the window £3,000," said Mr Tindall. "He went to the police station, said he was wanted and that, by the way, I've committed a burglary at Aldi. He told police he had a problem with drugs and wanted to go to prison."

Gareth Price, defending, said his client had been at a very low ebb and the Aldi offence had been a cry for help.

"He went to the police station to hand himself in but there were no officers there," said Mr Price. "He slept outside the station and when they came in the following morning he admitted what he had done."

Mr Price said following a relationship breakdown his client had lapsed back into drug abuse.

"As sure as night follows day, that led to the sort of offences you are dealing with today," said Mr Price.

Mr Price said on his first appearance Daly had pleaded guilty and did not apply for bail.

"He has spent three weeks in custody and is in a much better place today than he was before," said Mr Price.