An Amberleaf tobacco thief who stole from a filling station in Milford has appeared in court this week to admit the offence.
Thirty-one-year-old David Graham Lewis, of Chestnut Way, The Mount, Milford Haven, appeared at Haverfordwest Magistrates Court on Tuesday to admit stealing tobacco worth £14.49 from Victoria Filling Station on the Great North Road on November 20.
Prosecutor Vaughan Pritchard-Jones told the court that the defendant entered the filling station at around 5.30 pm, and asked the staff member at the counter for the tobacco.
“The item was placed on the counter and then Mr. Lewis asked for a lottery scratch card as well. When the member of staff turned their back, the defendant simply grabbed the tobacco and ran out.
“The manager of the filling station circulated a photo on social media of the culprit, and had a reply identifying him. Police attended and viewed the CCTV before arresting Mr. Lewis three days later.
“He said to police ‘I’ll just admit it now to get it over with - I smoked it!’
“Mr. Lewis has previous convictions for theft and his most recent appearance in court came this year for drugs possession,” added Mr. Pritchard-Jones.
Defence solicitor Jonathan Webb told the court that it was an ‘unsophisticated level of theft’.
“It was spur of the moment, with temptation getting the better of Mr. Lewis,” he said.
Magistrates handed Mr. Lewis an 18 month conditional discharge and ordered him to pay compensation of £14.49 to the filling station.
The defendant was also ordered to pay prosecution costs of £85 and a £21 victim surcharge.