TWO men who stole second hand goods destined for charity shops planned to sell them at a car boot sale, a court heard.

James Gardner and Allen Powell took plastic bags from the doorsteps of people who had filled them with unwanted clothing, handbags and shoes.

But the Ford Transit van Powell was driving was stopped by police after they were tipped off and nine bags were seized.

Janet Coxon, prosecuting at Consett Magistrates Court said: “We are taking about a relatively small value but it is the principal.

“It is a quasi breach of trust because it is theft from a charity and it is all the worse for that.”

James Gardner, 31, of Ryton Crescent, Seaham, pleaded guilty to three counts of theft of charity bags belong to Kidney Research, the British Hearth Foundation and Help the Aged in Bowburn on March 4.

Allen Powell, 35, of South Close, Easington Lane, Houghton-le-Spring admitted the same charges as well as stealing a PDSA bag on March 2.

In mitigation Jaxon (corr) Taylor said: “They recognised that the person who owned them no longer want them but had decided to give them to a particular charity.

“The fact that they have taken from a charitable organisation will be an aggravating feature in the view of the court but it is not a breach of trust.

“All of the items have been recovered and can be forwarded to the charities.

“They both fully accept what they have done and when discussing it with officers it dawned on them that it was wrong.

“They were both apologetic and both remorseful.”

The men were each sentenced to a 12-month community order with supervision by the Probation Service and ordered to pay £60 in costs.

Chariman of the magistrates’ bench Carol Cliffe said: “It was intentional and you have deprived charity of funds.

“It was a breach of trust.”

Paul Bates, from Help the Aged, said elderly people would have been deprived of their services if the pair had not been caught.

He said: “You have to ask yourself what kind of person would think it is acceptable to steal from a charity, “It really does beggar belief.”