AN unemployed man defrauded a string of shops after his jobseeker’s allowance was were stopped.
Francis Bretland, 49, of Castle Court, Northwich, admitted a series of thefts and fraud offences at Vale Royal Magistrates Court on Wednesday.
But he will not go to jail.
Bretland was caught after trying to get a cash refund from Argos in Northwich for an electric can opener he had stolen from the shop.
Prosecutor Jackie Lamb said Bretland was given a gift voucher for £19.99, which he used to buy a deep-fat fryer before leaving the store.
He tried a similar ruse at the same shop the next day, but suspicious staff recognised him and called police. Only after his arrest did the other offences come to light.
The court was told on July 9 Bretland took two packets of chicken from chiller cabinets at Tesco in Northwich Road, Weaverham and opened them.
He then rubbed dirt onto the meat and asked for his money back, claiming he had bought the produce and it was inedible.
He did the same with a packet of lamb chops from the Barnton Co-op later the same day and stole two packets of sirloin steak from the Weaverham Co-op on July 10.
Ms Lamb said the defendant had a history of offences for dishonesty and had also admitted four further similar offences.
Derek MacDonald, defending, said Bretland had fallen on hard time after his jobseeker’s allowance was stopped.
He said the crimes were a direct result of Bretland’s dire financial situation.
“With not having any income, he can’t pay the bills,” he said. “He decided to resort to dishonest acts to put food on the table for him and his partner.”
The defendant, who now has “the prospect of employment”, was given a three-month custodial sentence, suspended for a year.
