A young lad who was living rough in a field and on the streets after being kicked out of his home has avoided being sent to prison after he stole thousands of pounds from his boss to pay for somewhere to live.

Ryan Fage, 20, was highly thought of by his former employer who described him as a polite young man with a good attitude who never missed a shift at the Pantry Stores in Trehafren, Newtown.

But on Wednesday, August 17, Fage along with his accomplice 18-year-old Thomas Pink who he'd only known for around three weeks stole from the shop after the owner had locked up that night.

Fage and Pink pleaded guilty to burglary and stealing a safe containing cash, CCTV and vapes worth £3,604 when they both appeared in the dock at Welshpool Magistrates' Court on Tuesday, December 20.

Shop owner Adrian Jones told the court that during the 32 years of running the business in Trehafren he has trained many young people from the estate, providing them with life skills by giving them a job.

"My doctor has told me to avoid stress and enjoy the little time I have left," he said.

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"Ryan was a model employee, never missed a shift, had a good attitude, but got mixed up with the wrong crowd. I’ve helped Ryan see right from wrong. I feel Ryan has been influenced by others. I do not believe it’s in his nature.

"They had no respect for me or the shop. Ryan is aware of my state of health.

"It’s a betrayal of trust and I’m reluctant to employ youths again. They should be made accountable for their actions. Destroying trust in people goes far beyond any financial compensation."

Prosecutor Suzanne Cartwright told the court that Mr Jones took the day's takings of cash and coins into a safe, locked it, set the alarms and left the store, and gave no one permission to enter after closing time. The safe was kept in a location where only staff would know. Police officers were later called after the alarm went off, the shop light was left on and the door was unlocked but with no sign of forced entry. Officers later recovered £3,290.05 but £114 was not found.

Paul Inns, mitigating, told the court: "It’s a shame he’s brought this onto himself. He’d recently been kicked out and was living rough in a field and felt he wasn’t earning enough and felt he had no choice but to break-in and steal the safe to live somewhere for a while.

"He was hanging around the wrong crowd at the time. He's now engaged with the youth team at Powys County Council, he's also secured temporary housing and he's seeking employment."

Mr Inns added: "There was some planning but not the best planning in the world. It was an inside job."

Probation officer Joseph Long told magistrates: "Mr Fage believed he would be able to use the money for housing to get off the streets, that was the motivation for the offence. He says he did feel it was a bad idea but was shut down by another person who is not here in court."

Mr Inns added that Pink, who has moderate learning difficulties, first thought the idea was "a bit of a joke".

"He went along with it and in hindsight regrets his actions and should never had done it," he said.

Mr Long told the court that Pink, who had met Fage weeks earlier in a pub, had offered to pay the victim back from his own pocket.

Suspending Ryan Fage's 16-week custodial sentence for 12 months, chair of the bench Nicolas Powell said he was the "leader", adding: "There was a great deal of trust and you sought to break that trust."

Pink, of Garth Owen, was ordered to complete a 12-month community order.

Fage, of Commercial Street, was ordered to pay £396 in court costs and fines, and Pink £356. Both men were ordered to complete 150 hours of unpaid work and 20 rehabilitation requirement days.