Worksop: Man stole B&Q items from skip - then made off on push bike

Darren Parkin, 40, of Cheapside, pleaded guilty at Worksop Magistrates’ Court to the thefts.

Prosecuting, Ruth Snowdin, said: “On the evening of 29th July 2014, officers saw the defendant balancing the items whilst he rode on a push bike.”

The court heard that the items had been disregarded by the shop into a skip which is when Parkin came across them.

The petrol strimmer was said to not be in full-working order as there was a problem with the handle which is why it had been throw away and not all of the items had B&Q stickers on them.

Parkin had only been in possession of the goods for 20 minutes before he was stopped.

Defending, Yvonne Wragg, said: “This was a moment of opportunity.”

“He was in the local area and he just came across the items.”

“The items were not taken from inside the premises.”

“He said that he did it so that he could sell them on to a local scrap yard for a bit of money.”

“He has turned his life around and has been seeing a drug worker three times a week.”

“He is feeling much better about himself now.”

It was later revealed in court that Parkin had tested positive for opiates on arrest.

The magistrates sentenced Parkin to a 12-month conditional discharge and ordered him to pay £85 costs and a £15 victim surcharge.