A thief has been fined £300 after he stole a charity shop volunteer’s purse while she was assisting a customer.
Steven Lockhart, of Bedford Road, Aberdeen, entered the Stella’s Voice shop on King Street on the afternoon of December 14, 2018.
Fiscal depute Lynzi Souter told the court he was seen on CCTV loitering around the charity’s premises, which raise funds to support its work to prevent human trafficking.
He was then recorded sneaking into the staff area behind the till before leaving the shop.
Lockhart made off with a £10 purse containing £40 and a bank card.
Yesterday the 45-year-old, appeared at the city’s sheriff court for sentencing having previously pleaded guilty to the theft.
His solicitor, Christopher Maitland, told the court the theft was to fuel a drug habit that had “spiralled out of control”.
Sheriff Margaret Hodge told Lockhart: “Although you committed this offence to feed a drug habit, nevertheless a degree of premeditation and planning was used.
“You also caused financial loss, inconvenience and no doubt upset to this volunteer.”
She fined him £300 and ordered him to pay £75 in compensation.
Mark Morgan, the European director of Stella’s Voice, said: “It is great to see justice being done.
“Stealing from a charity shop is abhorrent.
“Although it wasn’t taking cash from the shop directly, it was taking money away from a hard-working volunteer who gave up their time to help others.”