Dock duo sentenced for Aldi meat theft

A PEMBROKE DOCK duo has appeared before Haverfordwest magistrates after being caught stealing meat totalling almost £150 from the town’s Aldi supermarket.

Joseph Valmont and Andrew O’Brien were arrested on April 6 after staff at Aldi observed them acting suspiciously.

“Staff noticed the two defendants pushing two trolleys around the store, and holding bags,” Crown Prosecutor Abigail Jackson told the court.

“They were then seen leaving the store without paying for their groceries.”

The store manager followed Valmont and O’Brien, who both live in Pembroke Dock, into the store car park.

“He asked them to empty their bags, but Valmont started touching his pockets and began giving them verbal abuse, and swearing,” continued Ms Jackson.

“The manager didn’t feel he was getting anywhere, so he told them to go away and someone would be in touch with them.”

However CCTV footage, later retrieved by the manager, showed both defendants placing meat into their trolleys before placing it into their bags. Aldi staff confirmed that the value of the meat amounted to a total of £144.97.

Ms Jackson informed magistrates that the offence was committed shortly after Valmont was given a 12-month conditional discharge by Llanelli magistrates for a similar offence of theft.

“My client knows he’s been silly and until this incident, he’s been doing really, really well,” said Valmon’ts solicitor, Tom Lloyd.

Meanwhile Michael Kelleher, representing O’Brien, stressed that the offence had been committed as a spur of the moment decision,

“There was very little planning involved and it was done on the spur of the moment,” he said.

“He accepts equal responsibility for what happened, and has described it to me as sheer stupidity.”

Valmont was ordered to pay a total of £445.48 comprising £220 in fines, a £48 surcharge, £85 costs and £72.48 compensation to Aldi.

O’Brien was fined £120 in addition to a £48 surcharge, £85 costs and £72.48 compensation.