Sunderland man stole booze from a Sunderland service station three times in four days

Michael Gage’s haul from the Harbour View outlet in Dame Dorothy Street, Monkwearmouth, added up to £91.92.

At the height of his drinking, Gage, 36, of Tatham Street, in Sunderland city centre, was sinking three litres of cider a day, magistrates in South Tyneside heard.

He took six bottles of wine on Friday, March 5, he then took two more two days later, and went on to steal a mix of wine and beer the following day.

The magistrates’ court has now banned him from entering the service station and ordered that he must undertake 25 days of rehabilitation work to try to get his life back on track.

Prosecutor Leanne Duffy told the court: “It’s £91.92 over three days from Harbour View Service Station.

“He’s entered the store and selected a number of bottles of wine and a crate of beer.”

Ms Duffy said Gage had eight previous convictions from 12 offences, six of which were for theft or similar crimes, and was last before the courts in May last year.

Heather Bolton, defending, told the court: “It’s a guilty plea at the earliest opportunity.

“He was drinking up to three litres of cider each day, and that's why he stole. His offences are predominantly alcohol related.

“His problem stems from his mother being poorly, and passing away.

“You’ll see from his antecedent history that he’s not often troubled the courts.

“In view that these offences are relatively minor, they wouldn’t normally cross the custody threshold. I would ask that you impose a community order."

The court heard that in a pre-sentence report into his offending, Gage had admitted he could not recall the thefts.

Magistrates sentenced Gage, who pleaded guilty to three charges of theft from a shop, to an 18-month community order.

The order carries the requirement of rehabilitation work and the ban on entering the service station.

He was fined £10, and must reimburse service station bosses the full amount of the stolen goods.

There were no court costs or victim surcharge.

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