A Nigerian student, Ayomide Okenla, has been convicted after carrying out 17 thefts from the same Newcastle, United Kingdom supermarket in less than four weeks, including three visits in a single day.
Okenla, 22, who moved to the North East to study at Northumbria University, admitted a sustained spree of shoplifting at a Sainsbury’s store on Falconer Street.
Newcastle Magistrates’ Court heard that Okenla stole goods worth more than £1,300 between 5 March and 30 March. Items taken included alcohol, meat, detergent and confectionery, with the offences repeatedly targeting the same shop.
Prosecutor Rehana Haque told the court the defendant was not initially identified from CCTV footage. However, on his 17th visit, Okenla attempted to leave the store with two crates of lager before being stopped by store security. A review of earlier footage then linked him to all previous incidents.
Okenla, of Stepney Bank in Ouseburn, has no previous convictions. The court heard his offending began after he struggled with isolation following his move from Nigeria, leading to drug and alcohol misuse. He developed a crack cocaine habit and used stolen goods to sustain it.
He pleaded guilty to 17 counts of shop theft and has been handed a 12 month community order. He was also ordered to pay £500 in compensation.
A further hearing is scheduled to determine whether a Criminal Behaviour Order will be imposed.
