KEEPING watch as an old friend carried out a theft in Highworth landed a 27-year-old Swindon man in front of magistrates.
Marc Houston, of Beech Avenue, faced a charge of theft after it was alleged he stole bottles of sun-tan lotion from Highworth Pharmacy on September 6 last year.
The court heard how Houston, who pleaded guilty, bumped into his old friend who asked whether he wanted to go with him to see someone.
But after the person failed to show up, the pair made their way to the Highworth Pharmacy in Sheep Street where his mate started putting items in his pockets.
After hearing from Houston's defence to say that while standing watch, which he knew was wrong, he never in fact stole any items.
Magistrates acknowledged that while he never took anything himself, Houston facilitated the theft by helping to conceal the items being stolen and imposed a 12-month conditional discharge.
Chair of the bench David Whetham also told Houston, a landscape gardener, that he must pay £85 costs and £20 victim surcharge.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article