Shoplifter set up e-bay business
8:44am Sunday 11th May 2008
A man arrested for shoplifting was found to have almost £24,000 in cash under his bed.
Stephen Kerton, aged 51, was living in a caravan at the time and stealing so much from shops across west Wales, he set up a small business recycling them on eBay, the internet sales site.
Kerton, of the Old School, Trefgarn Owen, near Brawdy, appeared at Swansea crown court to admit theft and to ask for 27 other offences of theft to be taken into consideration.
The court heard how the owners of the Golden Sheaf gallery in High Street, Narberth, suspected thefts were taking place.
When several radios went missing, the owners inspected CCTV footage and Kerton was identified.
Some of the stolen items later turned up on eBay.
Police arrived at the static caravan he occupied and asked him if he had any cash which, the court heard, was a precaution normally adopted by arresting officers.
Kerton volunteered that he had £23,900 in a safe under his bed. He said it came from the sale of a house and a divorce settlement.
After his arrest, Kerton admitted a string of thefts from shops in Narberth, Haverfordwest, Fishguard and St Davids.
The Golden Sheaf alone had made a compensation claim of £1,245 to cover the cost of stolen items.
The judge, Mr Recorder P. K. Lewis, described the offending as "serial shoplifting."
Kerton was made the subject of 12-month community supervision and ordered to attend a substance abuse programme.