One drink led man back to crime

Mark Howarth returned to his old stamping ground of St Annes and stole a bottle of alcohol.

Howarth, 40, of Linden Crescent, Darwen, pleaded guilty to theft of a bottle of chocolate mint liqueur worth £9.98 from Home Bargains, St Annes.

He was given a 12 month conditional discharge and ordered to pay compensation of £9.98 with £75 costs plus £15 victims’ surcharge by Blackpool Magistrates’ Court.

Alison Quanbrough, prosecuting, said Howarth was tracked down by police after CCTV footage showed him stealing a bottle of Sidekick from Home Bargains on May 22. Robert Castle, defending, said Howarth had kept out of trouble for 10 years. Mr Castle, added: “ At Christmas he had one drink for the first time in a very long time. He thought he could handle it, but he could not. He took to drink again.”

He has a lady friend in Darwen who is helping him significantly and he is keeping off the alcohol again.”