A prolific thief who managed to stay out of trouble for two years has returned to his old dishonest ways.
Richard Dickinson had been in-and-out of prison for much of his adult life but appeared to be starting to turn his life around following his last theft offence for shoplifting in June 2020. However, the 28-year-old proved his wasn't quite a reformed character when he landed himself back in court this week for stealing £175-worth of pink jackets from Next, in Newcastle.
In what his solicitor described as a "blip in an otherwise improving picture", Dickinson entered the Eldon Square branch of the store earlier this month, helped himself to the clothing and left without paying, prosecutors said. But it didn't take long to track him down as his description was passed around and he was spotted on CCTV in the Gallowgate area of the city soon after.
