Man fined for stealing meat

A Holbeach man has told a court he stole meat after his benefits were stopped for three months.

Paul Skiller, 45, of Marshlands Drive, who admitted the offences of shoplifting and breach of a conditional discharge when he appeared at Boston Magistrates Court, was said to have stolen £75 worth of meat from Tesco in Holbeach on September 20.

Mitigating, Helen Coney said that Skiller was unable to work because of his mental health issues and problems with alcohol and drugs, but his benefits were stopped when his partner received an inheritance,
which ran out in July, and were not reinstated until October, so the couple were left without any income
for three months.

She said they had been using food banks and then he offended with shoplifting, receiving the conditional discharge in July.

Ms Coney said he was now receiving benefits and he was receiving help with his alcohol and drug issues and had a crisis worker to help with his mental health issues.

He was fined £40 and ordered to pay a total of £56 in court costs and charges and the conditional discharge would continue.