Exclusive:Warrant issued for Portsmouth carnivore's arrest after he stole steaks, bacon and lamb chops from Co-Op
Michael Boswell pleaded not guilty to one count of shoplifting - but didn’t show up for his trial.
A man who was caught red-handed grabbing hundreds of pounds of meat from a convenience store has been found guilty in court.
Now, a warrant is out for his arrest - so that he can be punished for his crime.
Michael Boswell, from St Michael’s Road, Southsea, had been charged with one count of shoplifting, to which he had pleaded not guilty. His trial was held at Portsmouth Magistrates’ Court his morning (Monday, July 20).
Despite the 42-year-old’s absence from court, his trial proceeded without him, with the magistrates bench advised that his absence should have no bearing on their eventual verdict.
The court was told how on the evening of January 30 last year, Boswell went into the Co-Op store in Gudge Heath Lane, Fareham, where he stole £132.50 worth of meat.
Alyzeh Alam, prosecuting, said: “The items were taken at 5.30pm, when he entered the co-op, taking several items. He put them into his bag and left without attempting to pay. This was witnessed by a staff member, and recorded on CCTV.”
The CCTV images were initially put onto a police database, awaiting identification. Lucy Blue, representing Boswell, put forward the case that he was not the man in the CCTV images.
The defendant was later identified in the database by PC Louise Oram, who told the magistrates she had prior dealings with them.
She said: “I knew him from interviewing him once before, for a thef matter. I recognised that man [in the CCTV] to be Michael Boswell. I can only say what the CCTV has shown, and I have identified him from that.”
According to a Co-Op staff member, the thief stole packs of bacon, roasting joints, beef joins, lamb chops and steaks with garlic butter, among other items. Stuffing them into a blue bag, he then left in a Jaguar, despite one employee running out to try and stop him.
After retiring for approximately 15 minutes, the magistrates found Boswell guilty. Having not turned up for court, a warrant was issued for his arrest - once he is in custody, a sentencing date will be set.