A man who stole a bottle of perfume from a town centre chemist was this week handed a suspended sentence.

Andrew Hall, aged 31, of Murray’s Road, Douglas, was sentenced to eight weeks’ custody, suspended for two years by Deputy High Bailiff Jayne Hughes.

He was also ordered to pay compensation of £29.50 to Boots and £125 prosecution costs.

Hall was appearing in court due to breaching his bail conditions for a second time after he failed to attend a probation meeting but Mrs Hughes decided to sentence him immediately for the theft, saying that she was not prepared to adjourn the case again to wait for a probation report.

iomtoday.co.im has previously reported how, on June 1 at 12.45pm, police were called to the Strand Street Boots store after a report by staff of a man stealing a bottle of perfume.

Security staff reported seeing Hall remove the wrapping from the perfume box, then take the perfume bottle out of the box and put it in his jacket pocket.

Hall had been carrying items in a basket, but as he left the store without paying for the perfume he left the basket, with the items still in it, at the door.

He was followed by security staff and stopped.

When interviewed by police Hall just said: ’It was a mistake.’

The court heard that Hall had been jailed in February for eight weeks for stealing a pair of trainers from another shop.

Defending him in court, his advocate Deborah Myerscough said that Hall’s failure to attend his probation meeting had been a ’genuine mistake’ as he did not recall receiving a letter confirming his appointment.

Referring to the perfume theft, Ms Myerscough said: ’He entered a guilty plea at the first opportunity. It was not the most sophisticated offence.

’He has been engaging with the Drug and Alcohol Team. His memory is not the best, whether that is due to his medication he is not sure.

’He has been quite stressed. He is a carer for his partner who has Fibromyalgia.’

The Deputy High Bailiff told Hall while passing sentence: ’Given that there have been two bail breaches I am not prepared to adjourn for further reports.

’I accept it was not a pre-meditated theft but there was an element of sophistication in that you removed the wrapper which presumably had the bar code on.

’This was committed four months after another offence of theft. You have a substantial number of bail breaches and one breach of a suspended sentence.’

Hall will pay the compensation and costs at a rate of £5 per week with 14 days’ custody in default of payment.