Lights thief made threat

Robert Hughes, 40, of Queen Mary Road, Sheffield walked out of Dobbies Garden World without paying for two aqua beam marine lights worth £458.

He was followed by a shop assistant and a security officer, Chesterfield magistrates heard.

“The defendant put the lights on the ground and continued trying to make good his escape. He was asked to stop and said ‘I’ve dropped the stock leave me alone or I’ll bang you’,” said Helen Griffiths, prosecuting.

Hughes, who admitted theft, said he was hard-up and when he saw the lights remembered a pal had offered him £200 if he could get any.

He was given a one-year probation supervision ordered to pay £85 costs.