Man donned long brown wig to steal £45 worth of meat from Midlands store

A prolific shoplifter has been sentenced after donning a long brown wig in to steal almost £45 worth of meat from a store in the Midlands.

Warren Medcroft donned the wig in an ill-fated attempt to disguise his identity while he stole £44.70 worth of mince meat, beef steaks and beef burgers from the One Stop store in Nottingham Road, Ilkeston, East Midlands on October 4.

But despite the attempt to go unidentified, the 39-year-old was instantly recognised by an Derbyshire Police officer who viewed the CCTV footage of the incident.

However, Medcroft’s spree didn’t stop there.

He committed 15 offences within the space of a month – all at the Asda or One Stop stores in Nottingham Road – with him taking items including baby milk, washing products and butter.

He also made other attempts to evade justice - including trying to avoid being arrested by hiding in a wardrobe.

But Medcoft, who is of no fixed address, was caught and charged.

Appearing before Southern Derbyshire Magistrates’ Court on October 8, he admitted 15 counts of shop theft and was handed a 12-month community order with a rehabilitation requirement and was ordered to pay compensation to the shops.

Reacting to the sentencing, PC Charlotte Watson, who led the investigation, said: “Shoplifting has a real impact on the businesses in our community and I know that the two stores who were repeatedly targeted by Medcroft will have definitely been left counting the cost.

“He clearly didn’t want to face the consequences of his actions – trying to use a wig and hiding in a wardrobe to evade detection and capture.

“But officers soon caught up with him and he has now been sentenced for his crimes.

“I hope the rehabilitation requirement will help him to address his behaviour and see the error of his ways.”