A man has been ordered to pay fines and compensation following the theft of DVDs from an adult entertainment store after a hearing at Furness Magistrates Court on Tuesday.


MICHAEL ROONEY Michael James Lee Rooney, 39, of Church Street, Barrow, pleaded guilty to the theft of three DVDs to the value of £50 from Simply Pleasure in Dalkeith Street, Barrow.

The court heard that Rooney had entered the store at around 11:50 am on January 2 and picked the three DVDs.

Rooney then went to the counter to pay for the DVDs using his card. However, his card was declined.

Magistrates were then told that Rooney simply said: "I'm sorry but I'm going to have to rob these."

Pam Ward, prosecuting, said: "Mr Rooney said to the cashier 'I'm sorry but I'm going to have to rob these' before leaving the store.

"He left the store but had also left his debit card, which had been declined, on the counter."

The incident was reported to the police who then found Rooney on Ironworks Road, in Barrow, a short time later.

He was arrested by officers who attended and taken into custody.

As police approached, it was heard that Rooney may have thrown the DVDs under a car on the street. Police searched the scene for the items but were unable to trace them.

Trystan Roberts, defending, said: "When the police officer had spoken to him, Mr Rooney was shocked that he had taken the DVDs.

"He had gone into the store and had the intention of buying them. He knew he was doing something wrong and it was not his intention to steal them."

"It seems that he had his heart set on these DVDs."

Rooney pleaded guilty to one count of theft from a shop. He was ordered to pay a £75 fine, pay £50 compensation for the stolen DVDs, pay criminal court costs of £55, and a victim surcharge of £20.