Train baggage thief caught on camera
A man was captured on CCTV stealing belongings worth almost £300 from two suitcases that he had taken from a train, a court heard.
Brinsley Forrester, 25, had emptied items from both cases before abandoning them at Wolverhampton railway station on September 13 last year.
The father-of-two, from Bescot Road, Walsall, had taken the luggage from the Bournemouth to Manchester Piccadilly afternoon train.
Walsall Magistrates' Court heard how he had taken the train to visit family in Wolverhampton after having a row with his partner.
The two passengers, Rohni Phalke and David Simmons, were only alerted to their cases missing when they arrived in Manchester.
Mrs Rachael Smith, prosecuting, said: “The passengers went to collect their suitcases in Manchester but noticed that they were not there.
"They had boarded at Basingstoke and Oxford separately and put both cases on the luggage rack in coach D and sat in another carriage.
"They reported the missing luggage to the police and the cases were both found in Wolverhampton.
“When police checked CCTV it showed the defendant walking around the station with the cases taking property out of them before abandoning them. He had taken £55 worth of goods from the one case and £235 worth from the other.”
Forrester pleaded guilty to theft and theft by finding.
Adam Wieczerzak, defending, labelled the incident as an ‘isolated blip’.
He said: “It was a situation with little or no planning. On the day in question he had an argument with his partner and was told to leave and so got on a train to see family in Wolverhampton. It had a profound effect on him.
“When he got off he walked past a luggage rack and grabbed both cases.
“He acknowledges that it was not a smart thing to do. His actions were on cctv around the station and he apologises to the victims.
“This was an isolated blip.”
Forrester was ordered to pay £660 consisting of a £60 fine for each case, a victim surcharge fee of £30, £185 in costs and £285 compensation to the victims.
