Newcastle thief caught with baby milk cooler under jacket at 'well-known exchange of stolen goods'
by Sara Nichol · ChronicleLiveA prolific thief was caught with a stolen baby formula milk cooler hidden under his jacket.
Police officers were in an area of Newcastle City Centre, which they knew was "well-known for the exchanges of stolen goods for drugs", when the spotted Stephen Kegg with something "bulky" concealed in his clothing. As a result, the 40-year-old, who has 102 offences on his record, including 52 for theft, was searched and the cooler was discovered, still attached to security tags, a court heard.
Kegg, who was on a suspended sentence at the time, claimed he knew the item was stolen when he bought it for a friend with a baby. The crook, of Darnell Place, in Newcastle City Centre, appeared in the dock this week to plead guilty to receiving stolen goods.
Ian Martin, prosecuting at Newcastle Magistrates' Court, said officers spotted Kegg on November 19 this year. Mr Martin continued: "He had something bulky hidden in his clothing.
"It's an area in town where officers know that items that are stolen are often exchanged for drugs. The defendant is searched." The court heard that a Nuby Cool set, which had been taken from a nearby Boots and was worth £69.99, was found hidden inside Kegg's jacket.
Andy O'Hanlon, defending, said, although Kegg had a lengthy record, his last offence was for violence and he hadn't committed a dishonesty offence for "some time". Mr O'Hanlon added: "Someone who he cares about has a baby and needed one of these but she couldn't afford it.
"Stephen went out and bought one off someone but he admits he knew it was stolen as it still had the tags on." Magistrates fined Kegg £200 and ordered him to pay £85 costs and a £80 victim surcharge.
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