A YOUTH pled guilty to stealing pens to the value of £3560 in a desperate bid to pay off his violent drug dealers.
The court heard that the 17-year-old youth, who cannot be named for legal reasons, stole the high-value Waterman pens from WH Smith in Lakeside on the 23rd April and 23rd June.
Mitigating, the youth’s lawyer explained that he was heavily indebted to a drug dealer who had threatened himself and his mother.
The youth had a cocaine addiction but has been clear for several months and has now entered employment. An impressive reference from his employer was read out.
He was fined £585. The pens were never recovered.
