Man stole from drunk woman collapsed in street and his own father

A 28-year-old man who stole a handbag from a woman apparently collapsed from drink on a Spalding pavement, has been told that had there been “any suggestion” he had pushed her over, he would have been going to prison.

Daniel Markham-Bright, who was said to live a “nomadic lifestyle” but has a correspondence address in Holbeach St Marks, admitted two offences of theft when he appeared before District Judge Peter Veits sitting at Boston Magistrates Court.

Prosecuting, Shelley Wilson told Judge Veits that in the first incident, at 9.30pm on August 22, Markham-Bright had gone to his father’s address in Edinburgh Road, Spalding, asking for money and claiming he had a job interview in Peterborough.

She said that when his father refused, Markham-Bright said: “I’ll rob you then,” took £20 from his wallet and left the house.

She said that in the second incident, at 2.20am on August 25 in New Road, he was seen on CCTV going to a woman who had fallen down through drink and stole her handbag off her shoulder, but was stopped by members of the public and the police were called.

She said that he admitted the offences when he was arrested.

Mitigating, Philippa Chatterton said Markham-Bright lived a “nomadic lifestyle” sofa surfing.

She said he had suffered from drug addiction for many years and in August, when these offences were committed, he had lost his accommodation and had a broken relationship and was “high on drugs” on both occasions.

When Judge Veits heard Markham-Bright had an existing community order, he issued a new one to cover all the offences, to include 20 days of rehabilitation.

He was also ordered to pay his father £20 in compensation and £175 in costs and charges.

“If there had been any suggestion you’d pushed this lady over, you’d be going to prison now,” he said.