Crooks Put Expensive Items Through Self-Checkouts As Fruit And Vegetables

Three thieves used the self-checkout machines at a supermarket to steal expensive electrical items.

Dandre Day, his girlfriend Courtney Tilley and Darren Tilley put hundreds of pounds worth of goods through the checkout as fruit and veg at an Asda in Sutton Coldfield.

Birmingham Magistrates' Court heard that the trio put a monitor worth £149 through as the price of a 6p pear.

On another occasion, they managed to pay just 12p for a couple of DVDs, putting them through as potatoes.

According to reports, they also made off with a keyboard that they'd put through as an onion, a soundbar and a pair of headphones worth £120 for just 20p.

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The three crooks then returned the next day to try their luck again, this time picking up a TV, a soundbar and set-top box.

Unfortunately for them, though, security cottoned on to their hustle and they were arrested after CCTV images captured using the cameras on the self-checkout machines were issued in an appeal by police.

Following their arrest, all three pleaded guilty to fraud.

Darren Tilley, 20, from Sheldon, was handed a £200 fine and ordered to pay £185 in court costs as well as a £34 victim surcharge.

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Courtney Tilley, 19, and Day, 20, both from Kingstanding, were fined £80 due to them both being on benefits.

However, they were ordered to pay the same amount as Darren Tilley in court costs and victim surcharge.

Defending Ms Tilley, Fergal Bloomer said that while his client had pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity, she had no doubt 'lost her good character'.

He said: "She has lost her good character which will remain with her for many years.

"She apologises for what happened and realises she got involved in something which started fairly simple."

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Mr Bloomer added: "Their life is now based around looking after their son.

"They are both in receipt of benefits."

While Alan Bryce, representing Mr Tilley, said his client had recently found a job and hoped that this could 'well provide a route out of this sort of offending'.

He said: "These were foolish offences almost bound to be caught."

Topics: Police, Birmingham, crime, court

Dominic Smithers

Dominic graduated from the University of Leeds with a degree in French and History. Like you, Dom has often questioned how much use a second language has been. Well, after stints working at the Manchester Evening News, the Accrington Observer and the Macclesfield Express, along with never setting foot in France, he realised the answer is surprisingly little. But I guess, c'est la vie. Contact us at [email protected]

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