iPhone thief spotted by victim

A thief caught stealing an iPhone on CCTV was spotted by his victim later on the same day in Worksop.
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Ryan Patrick McLaughlin, 33, of Gateford Road, Worksop, admitted stealing the phone from the staff room of a cafe on Gateford Road in the town, at around 11.30am on March 22.

Robert Carr, prosecuting, said: “When the owner checked CCTV she saw McLaughlin taking the phone.

“She saw him later that day and told police about it.”

McLaughlin was arrested but made no comment in interview.

The court heard the phone had wedding pictures on it that the owner said were ‘irreplaceable.’

Magistrates heard McLaughlin had appeared at court the week before, on March 15, when he admitted criminal damage after he was caught with diazepam tablets.

He received a 12-month community order, with a nine month drug rehabilitation requirement.

David Grant, mitigating, said: “It is depressing that Mr McLaughlin finds himself in this position. He can be wholly cooperative and has quite a good brain. He ought to be doing better in his life.”

Mr Grant said he had recently been offered a job, which was a ‘fundamental step for him’ as it would be his first proper employment.

Magistrates gave him an eight week sentence, suspended for 12 months. He was ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £80.

He was told to return the phone, which had been left in his house when he was arrested, within seven days.

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