A CHARITY worker who stole two metal stock garages from a Guyhirn garage was planning to use them in connection with his fund raising, he told magistrates.
Leslie Chesterman explained at Wisbech courthouse: “I took the trolleys, I do charity work and all my other trolleys are full.
“I have told the garage I will take them back when they are empty.”
Chesterman, 48, of Cattle Dyke, Gorefield, was caught on CCTV as he stole the trolleys from the Auto Pitstop garage on May 20.
The assistant manager had seen a van the garage, towing a trailer with the two stolen cages aboard.
“He approached the man and asked if he had taken the cages from the garage, he noticed two were missing,” said prosecutor Andrea Fawcett.
CCTV footage showed the cages being loaded on to the trailer, before Chesterman paid for some fuel.
Representing himself in court, Chesterman, who suffers from angina and high blood pressure explained: “I am guilty of taking them, but I had asked, and they were rusty. I went in the garage to pay for diesel, then went on my way.”
Chesterman was ordered to pay �50 compensation; he was given a six month community order, and must carry out 20-hours work on the skills for life course.
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