Tesco Chester shoplifter's case halted after man takes photos of defendant in dock

Prosecutor Kerry Pepperell had just finished giving evidence in the case of Craig Nordoff, 32, of Chepstow Avenue, Sale, on the morning of Friday, November 30, when the offence happened.

Police were called and the man's mobile phone – used to take three photos of Nordoff – was temporarily seized.

The man – understood to be a friend of Nordoff – had taken the pictures without Nordoff's knowledge and was warned by police he could have been immediately sent to the custody cells for contempt of court, as taking photos inside a courtroom was a criminal offence.

Ultimately the man was let off with a warning, the phone returned to him with the photos fully deleted, and the case resumed.

The court heard Nordoff had been in Chester at 2pm on November 10 to meet a friend.

When they saw the Tesco store did not have a security guard at the front, they decided to steal a number of items including game controllers and beauty items.

The stolen goods, valued between £350 and £500, were placed in the back of a Ford Fiesta in which Nordoff's friend drove off. Nordoff tried to make off on foot but was arrested.

Nordoff had 11 previous convictions for 17 offences, with the last shoplifting offence in 2010.

Defending, Estelle Parkhouse said Nordoff had pleaded guilty at the first opportunity.

The offence was committed to help pay off a drug debt he had.

Nordoff had obtained a job in the past couple of weeks as a labourer.

A report from probation heard Nordoff had in the past had serious problems with cocaine, had addressed them but this year began taking the drug again.

Magistrates sentenced Nordoff to a 12-month community order with 35 days of a rehabilitation activity requirement and a six-month drug rehabilitation requirement.

He was placed on a 12-week curfew running each day from 8.30pm-7am at his home address, must pay £85 court costs and pay an £85 victim surcharge.