Serial thief is back in court

Chesterfield magistrates’ court heard on Monday, April 14, how Ross Beardsley, 26, of Brockhill Court, on Chapel Street, Brimington, Chesterfield, was spotted by staff at Asda attempting to steal a DVD box set of Game of Thrones after he had already been sentenced for two thefts in March.

Prosecuting solicitor Ian Shaw said: “This attempted theft was foiled by the diligence of shop staff who saw Beardsley in the store on CCTV cameras. He had gone to the DVDs and picked one box set up and headed towards the clothing department and bent down slightly out of view of the camera and then went to the ground floor and exited without the box.

“The box was recovered and the plastic where the security tag was placed had been damaged. Beardsley said he had gone into Asda with the intention to steal.”

Beardsley pleaded guilty to the attempted theft of the DVD box set which happened on April 12.

The defendant’s offence breached a conditional discharge he was given on March 24 for two thefts on March 8 and 9 from the Co-op store at Brimington, Chesterfield.

Felicity Clarke, defending, said Beardsley has been homeless and suffers with epilepsy.

She said: “For the first three months of being homeless he committed no offences. He lost his job and home but got himself into a property on March 13. He had stolen to eat or stolen to sell to get food.”

District Judge Andrew Davison warned Beardsley homelessness and poor health are no excuse for resorting to crime and if his behaviour continued he was facing custody. His case was adjourned until April 24.