Teen caught stealing baby formula told Tesco manager ‘I have 16 children’
Magistrates' court in Ipswich. Picture: SIMON PARKER - Credit: Archant
A shoplifter claimed he had 16 children to feed when caught leaving Tesco with a trolley full of baby formula.
Marius Stanica travelled from Canning Town, East London, to steal baby milk, clothes and food from the Tesco Extra store in Newmarket.
The 19-year-old unemployed Romanian national admitted theft at South East Suffolk Magistrates’ Court, in Ipswich, on Monday.
The court heard how Stanica attempted to leave with a trolley full Aptamil baby formula and clothing, covered with large multi-pack bags of crisps, to the total value of £389.03, at about 4.30pm on February 24.
A second man fled the store but Stanica was apprehended, telling the store manager he had 16 children to feed when asked why he had stolen such a large amount of formula.
He offered to pay for the goods with his aunt’s card, but payment was refused and Stanica was arrested.
He was ordered to complete 100 hours of unpaid work and pay the court £135.
