Worksop: Man stole pensioner’s handbag which contained precious photographs

Steven John Hancock pleaded guilty to stealing a handbag and loose change belonging to a 71-year-old woman at the Aldi store on Gateford Road on 10th February.

Hancock, 38 of Norfolk Street, admitted taking the handbag which had been left in the store by the pensioner in the packing area.

The woman realised she had left her bag but when she returned it was no longer there.

Hancock was seen on CCTV taking the bag.

In a victim statement read out to the court the owner of the bag said she had been very upset by the theft.

She said the bag had contained a mobile phone worth £200 which had gone missing.

She had lost memories and photographs she couldn’t get back.

Hancock said he had taken the bag on impulse and had stolen loose change from a purse inside it, but had no knowledge of a mobile phone.

He had then left it behind a nearby wall.

Hancock was given a 12-month community order with 180 hours’ unpaid work and ordered to pay compensation of £209 a victim surcharge of £60 and costs of £85.