Mum and son admit garden centre thefts

A mum and son appeared in the dock together to admit stealing various items from a garden centre – including a bag of pick and mix.

However, Jane Wheeler was so consumed with guilt she returned to Newnham Court in Maidstone with the ill-gotten goods – solar lights, a DVD box set and plants – but not the sweets because some had fallen on to the floor.

The 49-year-old felt she was not being a good role model to her younger lad, who is in his teens, so made a return trip to Notcutts, off Bearsted Road, with elder son Matthew Doyle to hand some of goods back and pay for the rest.

Staff recovered the items and banned Wheeler from the shop before informing police.

Wheeler, from Napier Road, Gillingham, was later charged with shoplifting and admitted the offence when she appeared before magistrates. Doyle, 27, of Regency Close, Gillingham, also admitted the charge and stealing a £67 hose from a different garden centre.

Magistrates fined Doyle £50 for one of the shoplifting offences and ordered he pay £67 compensation and £85 costs.

He received no separate penalty for the other and magistrates decided to take no action on a breach of conditional discharge for a previous shoplifting offence.

Wheeler was given a 12-month conditional discharge and ordered to pay £85 costs.