Honey thief stole £1,000 worth in two raids on city centre store

Gavin Wilson raided Holland & Barrett twice for nectar-based products to fund his “horrific” drug addiction, a judge was told.

The 32-year-old pleaded guilty to carrying out the thefts from the retailer’s Ann Street shop on December 11 and 16 last year.

Belfast Magistrates’ Court heard Wilson, of Marchioness Street, was initially detained in connection with unrelated offences.

But while in custody he made unsolicited comments about the price of honey.

Police then checked the store’s CCTV footage and identified the defendant taking quantities of Manuka honey valued at £600 and £400.

It was disclosed that Wilson has amassed nearly 150 previous convictions on a criminal record which runs to 19 pages.

“What was he going to do with £1,000 worth of honey?” District Judge Anne Marshall asked.

Defence solicitor Eoghan McKenna confirmed Wilson intended to sell the products to buy drugs. “He has horrific addiction difficulties, had a relapse and just seemed to be oblivious to anything except how he fed that habit,” the lawyer submitted.

Mrs Marshall accepted Wilson had been “extremely helpful” to police.

“The best I can do in light of your 149 previous convictions is six months immediate custody,” the judge told him.

Declining to make an order for Wilson to repay the value of the stolen honey, she explained: “I don’t want him going and lifting £1,000 from somewhere else.”