A POWYS man treated himself to a box of Viagra on his birthday, as he wondered in to a Boots shop and stole the blue pills from behind the healthcare counter, in full view of staff.
Anthony Mark Stephens stole a box of Viagra on February 16, 2023 – the same day he was celebrating his 54th birthday.
Stephens, from Knighton, was said to have “no recollection” of the incident, although he admitted shoplifting when he appeared at Landrindod Wells Magistrates’ Court this week.
Prosecutor Rachael Drew said Stephens walked into the Boots store on Wylcwm Street in Knighton on the morning of February 16.
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He went behind the healthcare counter and took the box of Viagra pills, worth £34.99, off the shelf before leaving the shop without paying.
The court heard on Wednesday, January 3, that the offence put Stephens in breach of a conditional discharge he received at Welshpool Magistrates’ Court in August of 2022.
Stephens had, on two separate occasions in April of that year, stolen lager and then made off from a garage without paying for fuel.
“On the morning of February 16 last year, the defendant entered Boots in Knighton, went behind the healthcare counter, which is not meant for members of the public,” said Ms Drew.
“While there he removed a box of medication and left without making any efforts to pay. He denied the incident in police interview.”
Ms Drew mentioned the April 2022 offences as part of Stephens’ record and said a two-year conditional discharge was put in place by Welshpool magistrates – meaning Stephens is in breach of that by committing this new offence.
Acting for Stephens, of Fronhir, Knighton, Gareth Walters said: “He has no recollection of the incident and can offer no explanation as to why he did it.
“It was a low-level shoplifting matter, it was entirely unsophisticated, committed in broad daylight in full view of the shop manager.”
Magistrates told Stephens they were revoking the existing conditional discharge and re-sentencing him for the previous offences, as well as this new one.
For stealing Viagra he was fined £80 and told to pay £85 costs and a £34 surcharge, while he must pay £34.99 compensation to Boots.
For the April 2022 offences he received a £40 fine for each matter. The conditional discharge is to be discontinued.
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