AN ENNISKILLEN mother has been found guilty of theft after attempting to leave Asda without paying for everything in her trolley.
Julie Dodd (59) of Abbey Drive contested the theft charge against her at Enniskillen Magistrates Court on Monday. She had been stopped on March 28 this year after shopping at around 2.15am at the supermarket.
Dodd had spent over £250 in the store on the night in question, but was convicted of theft by Judge Nigel Broderick who was satisfied she was aware of £33 worth of car accessories that had been hanging in a bag on the back of her trolley that she didn’t paid for.
A security guard for Asda who was working on the night gave evidence that he heard a whistling sound and saw Dodd in one of the clothing aisles. He said Dodd, who had entered the store with a man, looked up and hurried away when she saw him, which he found to be suspicious.
The guard watched the pair on CCTV while they did their shopping. He said they would leave their trolley stationary and each go their separate ways, before returning to place their items in the trolley. Dodd, who has health problems with her shoulders, legs and ankles following a road traffic accident some years ago, and the man then went to the self-scan checkouts.
The security guard contacted a colleague who was working at the self-scan tills who told him the pair had not paid for the items hanging on the back of their trolley, namely a steering wheel cover, a seat cover, and car mats. The court was shown CCTV images of Dodd and the man at the tills.
The security guard approached the pair when they attempted to leave the store, triggering a security alarm. He asked to see their receipt, and when he checked it against the items in the trolley he confirmed the car accessories were not paid for.
The man with Dodd then left the store, however Dodd attempted to leave then returned and threatened to call the police when the security guard would not allow her to take her groceries with her. The security guard told her he was going to call the police, which he did, and Dodd was taken to the store’s holding room to await their arrival.
The man accompanying Dodd also returned to the store as police were arriving. He was named in court as Lee Kylie and was said to be Dodd’s carer. Dodd said he had been a friend of her son’s and had been staying in her house, helping her with chores and jobs. Mr Kylie was also charged with theft but had been released on street bail by police “and never seen again” following the incident.
Dodd’s barrister, Ciaran Roddy, said it had been Mr Kylie had been the one who scanned the items, and Dodd had not touched them at any time. Mr Roddy said Dodd had dealt with the security guard in a forthright manner and had behaved like an honest person.
Judge Broderick said despite the fact Dodd, who had no previous convictions, had bought a large number of items, totally around 50 or 60, he was satisfied that “for whatever reason” she had intentionally not paid for the car accessories. He fined Dodd £250, with eight weeks to pay.
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