Vaping delivery thief caught on CCTV tells court he could not remember stealing neighbour's parcel

[TrueBlueTerrier]

https://www.somersetlive.co.uk/news/fro ... ge-1640836" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

25 year old told magistrates he had no recollection of taking parcel

A Frome man caught on CCTV stealing a package of vapes and liquids left for a neighbour said he had absolutely no recollection of the crime.

Luke Bennett was filmed opening the door to his flat and helping himself to the parcel left in a communal area of the complex.


When he was later interviewed by police he denied the theft.

But after being shown the footage he accepted it was him - but told magistrates he had no memory of doing it.

Bennett, 25, of Old Gas Works, admitted stealing a package of nicotine vapes and liquids worth £77.97 belonging to Ben Cove, at Welsh Mill Lane, Frome, on February 8.

Prosecutor Emma Lenanton told the court at Yeovil Mr Cove placed an online order with The Vape Store for products worth £77.97 and had a confirmation e-mail.

“On February 8 he had a delivery confirmation that Royal Mail had delivered the package to his address at 9.10am, but when he returned home at 3pm the parcel was not there,” she said.

“Mr Cove had been told the delivery had been left in the communal area of the flats and video footage showed it being left by Royal Mail and then Bennett came out of one of the flats and picked it up, leaving with it in his hands.”

The defendant was interviewed by police on February 20 and initially denied any knowledge of the incident, but after being shown the CCTV confirmed it was him who had picked up the parcel.

Defending solicitor Ray Peters said that Bennett still had no recollection of committing the offence and said he suffered with ADHD and stress caused by fits.

“He has not worked for a number of years due to ill health and has no memory of taking the parcel and also had no idea what happened to the items,” he said.

“It is also bizarre that the Royal Mail is leaving post in a communal area.”

The magistrates imposed a 12 month conditional discharge on Bennett and ordered him to pay £85 costs and a £20 victim surcharge.