And finally…retail purgatory

Simon James Thyer, 42, of Yeovil became known to local authorities in the Somerset town for stealing anything from meat to make-up.

However, he would not keep the items for himself and, driven by a “need for recognition”, would simply give them away as a means to impress.

But a court has now ruled that Thyer is to be sentenced later this month after pleading guilty to stealing a number of items.

And in the meantime, he is banned from entering any retail premises.

Defending solicitor Greg Peters said that Thyer’s shoplifting was motivated by recognition adding that he had lost a number of family members in recent years.

“As a result he would commit shoplifting offences and then give the products way either for free or for a very low nominal price in a way of getting recognition from those people,” he said.

“If he did not steal then he would go out and buy things and give them to people for a nominal price.”