Worker stole £1k from store's safe
SUPERMARKET worker Dalton Simms stole £1,000 from a safe at the store where he worked.
The 38-year-old was caught in the act by CCTV cameras at Asda in Tunstall.
Now Simms has been handed a community order by a court and faces missing the birth of his child as he checks into rehab to sort out his alcohol addiction.
Prosecutor Steve Knowles told North Staffordshire Justice Centre: "There had been a £1,000 shortage highlighted at the store. The investigation manager reviewed CCTV and believed Mr Simms to be responsible.
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"He spoke to Mr Simms who immediately said: 'I will be honest with you, I have taken the money. I had a bad debt, I'm sorry'."
Police were called and Simms admitted taking £1,000 in £10 notes from the safe as he 'had a habit to feed'.
He said it had been 'eating away at him' since he took it, and he knew he wouldn't get away with it. He has paid back £510 since the December 4 theft.
Simms, of Cromartie Street, Dresden, was caught drink driving a month beforehand.
Police were called to Trentham Road in Blurton after Simms's Volkswagen Golf crashed into the back of another car.
A test revealed he had an alcohol level of 289mg in 100ml of urine. The legal limit is 107mg.
The court heard Simms had a problem with alcohol since his teens, and was voluntarily checking into rehab in a bid to save his marriage.
He will not be allowed any contact with the outside world for three weeks, and for the remaining 15 weeks visits that will be increased to once a week.
Mike Kimberley, mitigating, said: "At 15 he was diagnosed with diabetes and his mum wrapped him up in cotton wool.
"He had an older brother and a twin who had confidence, while he was reserved. He would have a drink to become more relaxed and get his confidence up. Over the years his tolerance increased and he began to depend on alcohol.
"He refers to his wife as a saint.
"She is due to give birth and he is not likely to see the birth of that child.
"His wife has said if he doesn't complete the course and stay off the drink his marriage is over."
Mr Kimberley added: "He hangs his head in shame. He's full of remorse. He knows this is his last chance."
Magistrates handed Simms a two-year community order with two years supervision.
He must complete an alcohol treatment requirement and was banned from driving for 23 months.
Magistrates ordered him to pay £490 in compensation to Asda, plus £85 costs and £60 victim surcharge.
5 Comments
by FFDP1
Saturday, January 26 2013, 5:45AM
“No one forces a person to drink to that stage of dependency and you are right, I only have a drink now and again. I can understand the problems with it, it is a very powerful drug that filters its effects down to the everyday life of people who don't use it. If he is diabetic, I do know what I'm talking about on that, type one, injection controlled, its not going to help the fools health at all. I hope Asda sacked him, untrustworthy prat. Chuck him in the cells for two years and let him dry out a bit, some others round hear need that two. Glug, glug.”
by Karmonkarmoff
Saturday, January 26 2013, 12:03AM
“You get them every time. The "there's no such illness as alcoholism" brigade. Clearly better educated and informed than the World Health Organisation, and recognised as such by health services the world over as an illness/disease, these people still don't believe it exists. Of course alcoholics choose a life within a lonely twighlight world not being able to imagine life with alcohol or without it, slowly killing themselves, losing everything, never feeling well.......those on park benches who are there because of alcohol yet still continue to drink weren't born there, neither does it have the slightest relation to "will power" If it did, we wouldn't have the problems we do with alcoholism the world over. I sincerely hope those who deny its existence never have to witness its destructive potency, not only to the drinker but also to anyone close to them. Ignorance is what feeds alcoholism as people who bury their heads in the sand are often vocal about measures to treat alcoholics being a waste of money. Nobody is aware they are an alcoholic until they are an alcoholic and even then it ain't called 'the illness of denial' for no reason.”
by Lancer111
Friday, January 25 2013, 10:15PM
“The one positive thing that I can see is that he has paid £510 back, not many thieving toe rags that you see on these pages can say that.”
by Raziel
Friday, January 25 2013, 5:59PM
“FFDP1 you obviously have in-depth experience in alcohol dependency and its psychological effects; if not then here's a suggestion...take a break from watching Jeremy Kyle every day and live in the real world...drink effects lives and until you have experienced it first hand then you understand squat you prat!”
by FFDP1
Friday, January 25 2013, 11:49AM
“Yep! He's full of remorse and his mitigation seems to be brim full to the top with s**t.”