An arrest warrant has been issued for a brazen thief who ran into a shop and made-off with £160-worth of coats.
Darren Jordan was due in the dock this week after he dashed into New Look, in The Forum Shopping Centre, in Wallsend, and grabbed the garments. A court heard that the 50-year-old, who has 87 offences on his record and is well-known to police, then ran out and managed to dispose of his hoard before he was arrested a short while later.
The crook, who was only recently released from prison, was due at North Tyneside Magistrates' Court this week to face one allegation of shop theft but he failed to show and the case was proved in his absence. A warrant was then also issued for his arrest in order for him to be sentenced.
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Michael Lawson, prosecuting, said Jordan was captured on CCTV running into New Look at around 1pm on February 7 this year. He added: "He took three coats and ran out again.
"He didn't make any attempt to pay. Later the same day, when arrested on High Street West, he was not in possession of the coats. He made full admissions during police interview. The value of the coats was £164.97."
The court heard that Jordan, of Stanley Street West, in North Shields, was last convicted earlier this year when he was jailed for 10 weeks for possession of a bladed article. Magistrates decided that he needed to be present for sentence and issued a warrant for his arrest.
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