Green-fingered crook comes unstuck after targeting Sunderland Lidl store

Norman Anderson, 46, was with two associates when he escaped with £127 worth of stock from Lidl’s store in Roker, just in time for spring on Thursday, April 23.

But Anderson, of Eversley Crescent, Carley Hill, was soon stopped in his tracks and at least some of the goods were recovered, prosecutor Yetunde Alake said.

At South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court, he pleaded guilty to a charge of theft from a shop, his ninth same offence.

District Judge Zoe Passfield sentenced him to a nine-month conditional discharge – and warned him to stay out of trouble for that time.

Mrs Alake told the hearing: “The facts are that the defendant was in Lidl with others and he took plants worth £127.

“Some of the plants were found on the defendant and were recovered by staff.

“He has 12 previous convictions from 21 offences, the last in February last year, and there are eight thefts on his record, which aggravates this offence.”

Heather Bolton, defending, said: “Mr Anderson does accept that he stole some plants and that he did run away. These plants were recovered.

“Two other people were involved. I’ve told him about joint enterprise and he doesn’t accept the value of the plants.

“He does have some problems with alcohol, and he has a brain injury and is receiving treatment for his brain injury.”

The court was also told Anderson is engaging with the Wearside Recovery drug and alcohol service.

Judge Passfield, who also ordered Anderson to pay a £36 victim surcharge, warned him to keep on the straight and narrow. She said: “You’ve been out of trouble for a while, and I’ve heard that you’ve an appointment with Wear Recovery.”

Of the conditional discharge, she warned the defendant: “That means stay out of trouble for the next nine months and that will be the end of it.

“If I see you back here in the next nine months, this will be looked at again. You don’t need to do anything other than stay out of trouble.”