Thief tried to flog creams next to shop

A BRAZEN thief was caught trying to sell his stolen loot just yards from the shop he had taken it from.

Craig Armstrong was captured on CCTV making off with Nivea creams from Wilko, in North Shields, one afternoon earlier this year. And it didn’t take long for officers to track the 40-year-old down as he was found trying to flog the goods close to the entrance of the shop, magistrates heard.

The career crook, who has 85 offences on his lengthy criminal record and already owes more than £5,500 to the courts, has been given yet another chance after he pleaded guilty to one count of shop theft.

Magistrates gave Armstrong a 12-month conditional discharge and he must pay a £22 victim surcharge.