A FATHER stole power tools worth £200 from B&Q in Chester because he was struggling to make ends meet with his £190 a month benefits.

Stuart Warren Fennell, 37, who admitted he dabbles in cocaine use every few weeks, swiped the items from the Sealand Road warehouse on July 18 this year.

Somewhat unwisely, the Blacon man then returned to the same store the following day to steal more items and was apprehended by staff.

At Chester Magistrates Court today (Thursday, September 6) he pleaded guilty to two charges of theft and one of ‘going equipped’ as he had two pairs of pliers with him.

Fennell, who has a two-year-old daughter, was handed a 12-month community order to include 120 hours of unpaid work.

Outlining the case, prosecutor Alan Currums said staff had discovered an empty box of power tools and checked CCTV to find out who had taken them.

The following day they spotted the same culprit enter the store and put items including a jigsaw into a rucksack. Police were called and Fennell gave a ‘no comment’ interview after being arrested.

Howard Jones, defending, stressed that his client had pleaded guilty as soon as the case got to court.

“Put simply, the reason behind the offending was lack of money,” the solicitor said. “Mr Fennell has not worked for 12 months but before this had regular work as a landscape gardener.

“He was also on a reduced amount of benefits. Mr Fennell found himself in a desperate situation and did something he realises was wrong.”

Probation officer Lisa Philips told the court Fennell had been “ambivalent” in his interview with her.

“He knows it’s not right but he’s ‘trying to get by’, were his words,” she said.

He has no drug or alcohol issues, she said, although he admitted taking cocaine “every couple of weeks”. Asked how he could afford the drug, he said he shared it with friends.

The court heard he receives £190 a month in Universal Credit and had been trying unsuccessfully to find work.

Fennell, who gave his address as Penmon Close, Blacon, was ordered to pay £85 court costs, an £85 victim surcharge, and compensation of £200 to B&Q.