A GROUNDWORKER under financial pressure to repay funds to family and friends stole more than £350 worth of food from a convenience store in Barrow, a court heard.

Stephen Anderson, of Broad Close in Barrow, was identified by police from CCTV footage after staff at Co-Op on Abbey Road noticed a ‘substantial amount’ of stock had gone missing.

Prosecutor Peter Kelly said the 39-year-old stole a total of £356.05p worth of food items on four separate occasions.

The court heard Anderson stole £122.70 worth of food from the store on December 12 last year, £68.10 worth of items on January 31, £92.50 worth of goods on February 19 and a further £72.75 worth on February 21.

Mr Kelly said the defendant was already subject to a community order at the time of his offending.

In mitigation, Michael Graham said his client had ‘got into some financial difficulty’.

He said: “The defendant was in employment prior to the COVID-19 lockdowns and is now working as a groundworker.

“He felt pressured because he was in debt to his family and friends. He made the decision to take the items to repay the funds he owed.”

Magistrates decided to revoke the defendant’s previous community order.

As a result, Anderson was made the subject of a new 12-month community order where he is now required to complete 140 hours of unpaid work.

Anderson was also ordered to pay every penny back to the Co-Op store in compensation as well as pay £85 in court costs and a £114 surcharge.