Homeless man stole from Mansfield store to feed himself

Lee Goody was detained after taking £39 of items from B&M Bargains, on Stockwell Gate, on March 9.

The court heard he is on post-sentence supervision until June, following convictions for a proceeds of crime offence in May, last year.

Stacey Mightie, mitigating, said Goody stole to buy food and was due to attend court in March, but had been in hospital with pnuemonia.

“He has appeared before the courts for dishonesty matters on a number of occasions, and he has served a number of custodial sentences,” she said.

“He tried to address his drug use on his own, but unfortunately that hasn’t worked.”

She said he was now engaging with his probation worker.

Goody, 30, care of Wainwright Avenue, Mansfield, admitted theft when he appeared at Mansfield Magistrates Court, on Wednesday.

He was given a six month community order, with a drug rehabilitation requirement, and he must pay £85 costs and an £85 government surcharge.