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An “opportunistic” Kidderminster thief made off with a Royal Mail charity tin in aid of Alzheimer’s sufferers when he went to pick up a parcel from a delivery office in the Worcestershire town.
Nicholas Walker, of Compton Valley House, George Street, Kidderminster, pleaded guilty to theft when he appeared before Worcester Magistrates’ Court yesterday (October 25).
The 40-year-old, who has a history of drug addiction, was sentenced to paying a compensation order of £30 to the Alzheimer’s Society for the money taken.
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Walker was at Royal Mail’s Kidderminster delivery office on Crossley Retail Park with his sister picking up a parcel when he “impulsively” and “entirely opportunistically” took the charity box containing £30, the court heard.
West Mercia Police officers from Kidderminster Safer Neighbourhood Teams tracked down the thief soon after, arresting and charging him on September 21.
Magistrates were told Walker had been “in and out of prison” for offences of dishonesty and burglary due to a long history with drug addiction and mental health conditions.
The defendant also suffered a family tragedy this year and supplied a letter of support from Sanctuary Supported Living on how he was making improvements in his life.
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Chairman of the magistrates bench, Kevin Lloyd-Wright, noted Walker was working to make a change and said: “You’ve pleaded guilty to theft of a charity box – that’s not a good look.
“We’ve taken into consideration that this was a charity box and will make the compensation order for the Alzheimer’s Society so that makes them whole again. In light of your restricted means, we won’t make any order for costs.”
He added the bench acknowledged the efforts he was making to turn things around.
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