Luke Wigley, a 26-year-old man described as vulnerable, has appeared in court after stealing two boxes of Skittles from a One Stop store in Wolverhampton. The sweets were valued at £37.50.
Wigley pleaded guilty to the theft, which was captured on CCTV, at Dudley Magistrates' Court on July 30. The incident occurred on May 30 at the One Stop on Oxley Moor Road.
Court Hearing and Background
The court heard that Wigley is currently remanded in custody while awaiting sentence for a number of other theft matters. His defence solicitor, Sundip Murria, told the court that the stolen items had not been recovered.
Murria explained that Wigley had previously been addicted to class A drugs and that drug dealers had exploited him to commit shop thefts. "Mr Wigley is a vulnerable young man who has found himself in the past addicted to class A drugs," Murria said. "Drug dealers have been able to get him to commit a range of shop theft offences, resulting in him being incarcerated, awaiting sentence."
Guilty Plea and Compensation Order
Murria highlighted that Wigley had "done the right thing in pleading guilty at the first opportunity." The magistrates issued a compensation order, requiring Wigley to pay £37.50.
The case underscores the ongoing issue of vulnerable individuals being coerced into criminal activity. The compensation order aims to reimburse the store for the loss incurred.
