Former haulier from Wisbech admits shoplifiting

The owner of a Wisbech haulage business which went “spectacularly” bust in 2018 has been convicted of shoplifting.

Magistrates were told that William Albert Reeve lost his house and accrued £80,000 of debt following the collapse of the firm.

The 52-year-old, who now lives on a caravan site in Sand Bank, Wisbech St Mary, appeared at King’s Lynn Magistrates’ Court on Thursday to plead guilty to theft from Tesco in Lynn’s Hardwick Road.

It was about 3pm on June 9 when he walked out with a trolley of items without making any attempt to pay and left in a vehicle.

“The value of the items which the store can be sure of is approximately £70,” said Victoria Bastock, prosecuting.

She said there were 18 thefts and similar offences on his record.

Mitigating, solicitor Tim Bartlam said the value of the items was under £200 and was probably between £70 and £100. Reeve, he said, had racked up £80,000 of debt and had been unable to buy groceries for his family.

“He ran a haulage business for a few years prior to the end of last year when it finally went down. The business went spectacularly bust and he lost his house,” said Mr Bartlam.

“He was in difficult circumstances in June. Thankfully, he has a job now as a lorry driver.”

Reeve was told to pay £85 compensation to Tesco and £40 prosecution costs.