A MAN grieving the loss of his mother stole meat because he was having problems with his benefits, a court has heard.

Neil McCormack, 35, admitted stealing £67.50 of meat from stores in West Auckland on three separate occasions last month.

Vickie Wilson, prosecuting, said CCTV showed McCormack take six packs of chicken, worth £30, from the SPAR foodstore on March 8 while he was also challenged by staff at the Select and Save store when he tried to steal seven packets of gammon, worth £17.50, on March 17.

Later, on March 27, he was caught stealing four packets of sirloin steak from Iceland, worth £20.

Helen Thompson, mitigating, said the reason McCormack stole the meat was because of problems with his benefits over the last four months and the recent death of his mother who was his only relative who could help him financially.

She said her client, of Cheesmond Avenue, Bishop Auckland, had applied for a hardship fund but was unsuccessful and therefore “resorted to stealing”.

Newton Aycliffe Magistrate, Ann Turnbull, fined McCormack £168 which will be paid in weekly £5 instalments from his benefits, which have now been reinstated.