A THIEF has admitted to stealing last minute Valentine’s Day items for his girlfriend.

Brendan Noon pleaded guilty at the first opportunity to theft from a shop when he appeared at South Cumbria Magistrates Court on March 6.

Prosecutor Peter Kelly said the defendant was caught on CCTV shoplifting £24 worth of items from Home Bargains on Highgate in Kendal on February 13.

The items stolen were never disclosed to the court.

Mr Kelly said the defendant was arrested at his home address on New Road in Kendal on February 16.

The court heard the items have never been recovered.

Noon, who decided not to be legally represented in court, told magistrates: “I was going through a hard time. I should not have done it and I’m sorry. It is something I did out of impulse. It will never happen again."

Mr Kelly said the 31-year-old defendant had previous relevant convictions dating back to 2021.

As a result of his guilty plea, magistrates imposed an £80 fine and ordered that he pay £24 in compensation back to the store.

He was also ordered to pay £85 in court costs and a £32 surcharge.

Chair of the bench Gillian Seddon said: “You have been out of trouble for a few years now. Let’s hope this is a blip and that we do not see you again.”