Ipswich shoplifter hid speaker in his coat before leaving Maplin store, court told

A shoplifter with 22 previous offences to his name must pay £170 in fines and costs after stealing a speaker from a town centre store.

Kevin Cornforth, of Burlington Road, Ipswich, admitted theft of a JBL speaker worth £129.99 from Maplin Electronic in the town’s Carr Street, when he appeared before South East Suffolk Magistrates Court.

The theft took place on March 21.

Prosecutor Colette Harper said Cornforth walked into the store at 9.15am before picking up the speaker and concealing it in his coat.

The 40-year-old then left the store without paying for it.

Magistrates were told that on the same day another man went into Cash Converters in Northgate Street and attempted to sell the speaker.

However, staff alerted police as the item had already been registered as stolen.

The court heard Cornforth was not arrested until August 21 when he was seen by street rangers in the town centre and detained.

Mrs Harper said 12 of Cornforth’s previous 22 offences had been for theft.