Shoplifter who hid TT brand shirts in coat fined

Man, 54, stole items worth £98

BBC report from the Isle of Man

A visiting motorcycle fan who stole Isle of Man TT brand clothing from a store by hiding it in his coat has been fined.

Barry Blood, from Ormskirk in Lancashire, was seen leaving the store near Douglas Promenade on Friday with the clothes still on their hangers.

Douglas Courthouse heard the 54-year-old was spotted by a member of the public after dropping two of the items as he left.

He was fined £300 and ordered to pay £125 in court costs.

The court heard that Blood hid the three items of clothing in his coat on Friday at around 8 p.m.

A member of the public saw him drop another shirt on his shed, before dropping a second when he knelt down to collect the first as he left the store and was reported to the police.

When he was arrested he was found to be in possession of three items, including a t-shirt, shirt and layered top, worth £98.

When he was charged, Blood apologized to police for his actions and later pleaded guilty to theft.

His lawyer told the court the 54-year-old was “extremely remorseful” and was struggling with personal issues at the time.

Deputy Senior Bailiff Rachael Braidwood said he had made a “stupid mistake” without “much explanation” for his actions, but she said his crime had not been sophisticated.