Trio in court for stealing home furnishing goods

Darren Batkin, 32, Angela Smith, 53 and 24-year-old Zarene Legge took the items from BHS in Hastings, which included duvets, mirrors, kitchen equipment and other items. At a court hearing on Monday, Mark Kateley, prosecuting, said police discovered the items with price tags still attached when they stopped the trio in a Vauxhall Astra in Lover’s Lane, on February 19. They became suspicious and seized the goods.

Smith, of Crowhurst Lane, insisted she paid for them but had no receipt. But CCTV footage showed the three taking the goods inside BHS.

All three were arrested and Batkin, also of Crowhurst Lane, was caught with cannabis. He also stole a £150 rug from BHS on March 11.

on Monday Batkin pleaded guilty to two shoplifting charges and possessing cannabis.

Smith admitted theft, as did Legge, of Meadow Crescent.

Aiden Harvey, defending Batkin and Smith, said Smith did not take part in the main theft but stood by and watched it. He said Batkin had been out of trouble since 2005.

Representing herself, Legge said: “I split up with my boyfrield and was going through a bad patch but should not have done this [theft].”

Magistrates adjourned sentencing Batkin until Tuesday (May 31), gave Smith a nine-month conditional discharge and a 12-month conditional discharge on Legge. They ordered her to pay £40 costs.