Shoplifter quickly identified due to having his name printed on back of shirt

After he abandoned goods he had stolen in the car park of Tesco, a man made off, but was identified because his name was on the back of the Manchester United shirt he was wearing.

Paul Robert Benson, 24, of Lurgan, County Armagh, Northern Ireland, appeared last Wednesday at Craigavon Magistrates Court. He pleaded guilty to the theft of goods valued at £104.54 from Tesco.



The court heard that, at approximately 3pm on September 3 last year, police received a report of a male shoplifter in Tescos. Staff observed that he was wearing a red Manchester United shirt with ‘Benson 22’ on the back.

The goods were recovered in the car park where the defendant had abandoned them after seeing staff. Benson was also identified on CCTV. When interviewed by police he made a full and frank admission. District Judge, Mr Mervyn Bates, said the defendant may as well have had a neon sign identifying himself. He imposed a 12 month probation order.