A SHOPLIFTER who stole a £55 shirt from a Darlington department store has had two-weeks added on to an existing curfew sentence.

Newton Aycliffe Magistrates’ Court heard today (Tuesday, January 20) that Steven Lumley, 28, stole the Fred Perry polo shirt from Binns on High Row after he removed its security tags in the changing rooms.

He was later identified and arrested, but he had already sold the shirt for £25 to buy heroin.

Lumley, of Prescott Street, Darlington, pleaded guilty to the theft.

In mitigation, the court was told that Lumley stole for drug money because he had missed his methadone treatment but now his prescription was back in place, that motivation to offend no longer existed.

The court also heard that he had breached three previous conditional discharges given for earlier thefts, resulting in him being placed under an overnight curfew for four months from January 7- four days after he stole the shirt from Binns.

Lumley, who already owes the court £1,383.63, was told to pay £55 compensation to Binns which will be taken from his benefits at the rate of £5 per month.

He also had a fortnight added onto his existing curfew, meaning that he has to stay in his home between 5pm and 5am every day until May 20.