Shoplifter tried to profit from coronavirus panic

A thief who swiped groceries from Tesco to sell on for profit amid the coronavirus panic was spared jail today (weds).

Harley Mayhew, 27, helped himself to chocolate and coffee as shoppers stockpiled goods between 9 and 11 March.

Mayhew was stopped by security at the Holborn Viaduct branch in central London filling his bags with unchecked items and admitted he had taken them to sell on.

He then came back to the same store and helped himself to three further hauls, Westminster Magistrates’ Court heard.

Timothy Bryan, prosecuting, said: ‘On 6 March he takes the items to the self service area and he’s bagging them there but doesn’t appear to be putting them all through.

‘He’s stopped and he says “I admit I took them to sell.

‘On the later occasion on 11 March he puts items in his bag and he’s stopped outside the store and he’s the same person who’s taken them before.

‘It’s coffee and chocolates, putting them in his bag and he said he was taking them to sell them because he was unemployed.’

District Judge Michael Snow ordered Mayhew to pay a £480 fine or four days’ custody in default.

But he will be released from HMP Thameside having already served the time on remand.

Mayhew, of no fixed address, admitted four counts of theft.

He was ordered to pay a £480 fine.
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