A MAN who stole two gammon joins from a Darlington supermarket sold them to buy tobacco, a court heard.

Steven Grebby, of Hargreave Terrace, Darlington, stole £10 worth of meat from Aldi, in Yarm Road, on November 26. He later sold the joints for £5, which he used to buy tobacco.

The 42-year-old admitted the theft when he appeared at Darlington Magistrates’ Court today (Tuesday, December 31).

Mitigating, Ben Pegman, said Grebby had recently had his benefits sanctioned and did not have any income at the time of the offence.

“Benefits sanctions seem to be a bigger driver of offences than heroin these days,” he said.

Magistrates handed Grebby a six-month conditional discharge and ordered him to pay £10 compensation to Aldi.

NO SHOW: Catherine Dillon, 42, of Gladstone Street, Darlington, failed to appear at Darlington Magistrates’ Court today (Tuesday, December 31) to answer two charges of shoplifting and failing to surrender to police bail. Magistrates issued a warrant without bail for her arrest.

DONATION THANKS: Musicians from Darlington folk band, North Road, would like to thank customers at Sainsbury’s in Victoria Road who helped them raise more than £125 for Save the Children’s Syria Appeal. The band serenaded shoppers at shoppers at the supermarket on Monday, December 23 to help raise money for the appeal, which helps children in war-torn Syria.