THE following cases were heard by South Durham magistrates sitting at Darlington Magistrates’ Court:

  • Barbara Taylor, 34, of Waverley Terrace, Darlington, pleaded guilty to theft from a shop and admitted a breach of a conditional discharge imposed for an earlier offence. The court heard she stolen items to a value of £33.89 from Sainsbury’s, which she used to buy heroin. She was given a community order with six months supervision and a six month drug rehabilitation requirement. She was also ordered to pay compensation of £33.89 to Sainsbury’s and a victim surcharge of £60.
  • David Gary Ryan, 19, of Elmfield Street, Darlington, admitted a charge of theft by finding after he picked up a bag containing prescription medication that had been thrown into a skip. He was given a six month conditional discharge and ordered to pay costs of £45 and a £15 victim surcharge.
  • Emma Louise Stubbs, 27, of Corporation Road, Darlington, pleaded guilty to a charge of theft from a shop. The court heard that Stubbs was in a dress alteration shop in Skinnergate, Darlington, when she took the shop owner’s iPhone from the counter and slipped it in her handbag. The phone was later returned. Stubbs was given a six month conditional discharge and ordered to pay costs of £45 and a £15 victim surcharge.
  • Declan Michael Turner, 21, of Roseberry Street, Darlington, admitted a charge of theft by finding in relation to an incident when he damaged a garden security lamp and discarded part of it. He was caught after police found a finger print on the lamp lid. He was ordered to pay compensation of £170 to the owner and court costs of £85.