A 33-YEAR-OLD man caught stealing from Boots claimed he was responding to pressure from a loan shark.
Blackburn magistrates heard James Webb planned to sell the gift sets he had stolen from Boots in order to repay the balance of the loan.
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Webb, of Frances Street, Darwen, pleaded guilty to admitted shoplifting. He was fined £75 with £20 costs.
Ian Huggan, defending, said Webb and his partner had secured a loan that carried excessive interest.
“They repaid most of the loan when their benefits came through but there was a little outstanding,” said Mr Huggan.
“When he went to explain that he had been arrested and was unable to repay the balance, he was assaulted and the ambulance attended. The police have a log of that incident.”
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