A prolific shoplifter with a staggering 111 offences on his criminal record showed brazen contempt for the law by returning to a life of crime less than 24 hours after being granted a suspended sentence.
Daniel Chapman, 28, of Wilfred Street in Byker, was back before Newcastle Magistrates’ Court this week after being caught on CCTV stealing from a local store. The incident occurred on July 8, just one day after a court had handed him a suspended sentence on July 7 for a previous shoplifting conviction, offering him a final chance to avoid immediate imprisonment.
Prosecutor Chike Anieto told the court that the defendant walked into the Home Bargains store in Byker, where he was filmed selecting tubes of toothpaste from the shelves. He proceeded to conceal the items—valued at £19.92—down his trousers before exiting the premises without making any attempt to pay for the goods.
Chapman’s criminal record, which covers a 14-year period between 2012 and 2026, was described by officials as “appalling.” Despite this history, his legal representative, John Kirkham, argued that his client had been making efforts to cooperate with the Probation Service since the incident.
When asked for an explanation regarding his client’s immediate reoffending, Mr. Kirkham told the bench: “After being given this order, the following day he went into a store and got toothpaste. The explanation was he didn’t have the money to pay for it. He can’t explain what went through his head.”
In a decision that spared him from an immediate prison sentence, the magistrates opted for a lenient approach. Chapman was handed a six-month conditional discharge and ordered to pay £19.92 in compensation to the store. Additionally, the court added one month to his existing suspended sentence, warning him that further breaches would almost certainly lead to time behind bars.
The case has highlighted the ongoing challenges faced by local businesses in the area, with the defendant’s actions occurring almost immediately after he had been granted mercy by the court.
Despite his long history of offending, the court heard that the defendant has been complying with the requirements of his supervision order since the toothpaste theft. As he leaves the court, Chapman remains subject to the conditions of his sentence, with authorities continuing to monitor his progress through the Probation Service. The case serves as another stark reminder of the persistent issues involving repeat offenders in the North East, as local communities continue to grapple with the impact of low-level shoplifting on retail outlets.
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