Police found driver with stolen meat

David Shippham, 41, from Brighton was arrested at the store on January 25, Lewes magistrates heard on Wednesday last week.

As police were nabbing another shoplifter staff spotted Shippham stealing joints of lamb worth 62. He drove away and was stopped in Saltdean by police who found the meat on the passenger seat beside him.

Andy Horsman, defending, said his client, a former drug addict, was a self-employed van delivery driver. However, he had no money to buy diesel for the vehicle and stole the meat with the intention of selling it to raise some cash.

Shippham was conditionally discharged for two years, ordered to pay 62 compensation and costs of 118.