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Original poster

Help. Arrested for shoplifting and driving without a license

192 replies

selboy01 · 31/08/2015 15:34

Im in need of some help. I stupidly shoplifted form asda, goods where over £100 and the police where called. And in the process they found out i had drove there without a license. I have never shoplifted before and the driving was a one off as im due to sit my test in couple of weeks.
I got took to the police station and was held in a cell for a couple of hours then got fingerprints took etc, they never questioned me though. They then told me my details would be sent to the procurator fiscal and that was it?
Now i have no idea what will happen next, what punishment ill get and im terrified.
I have never been in trouble before. Can anyone shed any light on what i should expect, will i need to go to court, what will happen etc.
Im a mother of 2 small kids and can not bare to think ill go to prison for me being completely stupid this one time.
many thanks

OP posts:
BitchPeas · 31/08/2015 15:36

Did you speak to a solictor? Did you say why you shop lifted/drove without a licence? Where were your kids when this happened? What did you steal? Is this your first offence?

nancy75 · 31/08/2015 15:38

People rarely get sent to prison for shoplifting, especially for a first offence. I would guess you will get a fine for the shoplifting and another for driving without a license.
I have to say it is very unusual for a first time shoplifter to steal £100 worth of stuffHmm

LIZS · 31/08/2015 15:41

I doubt you'd go to prison but may well get a hefty fine and points on your licence.

Original poster
selboy01 · 31/08/2015 15:43

thanks for your response. I have not spoke to a solicitor, at the station they said i should wait until i hear back from the procurator fiscal before contacting one. My kids where not with me and yes this is my first offence.
The reason it was that much as it was 2 inks for my computer. stupid i know.

OP posts:
andsoimback · 31/08/2015 15:46

Did you have any insurance?

BackforGood · 31/08/2015 15:47

Neither of these sound like accidental / 'it just happened' things.

Getting in the car was a conscious decision that you clearly made although obviously you know you haven't passed your test. This isn't some 'lapse in concentration and slightly straying over the limit' , is it?

Same with the shoplifting. If you made a decision to do it, then you surely can only have expected to take the consequences. You aren't pleading it was a loaf of bread to feed starving dc - the item, by your own admission, was an expensive one, which you decided it was alright to take Hmm

Nonnainglese · 31/08/2015 15:48

Apart from wondering just what the hell you thought you were up to....... You'll probably get a hefty fine for shoplifting, +/- community service, another fine and points on your license and possibly banned from Asda (that's what happens around here)
You must have known what you were planning to do......so pleading innocence won't wash.

Original poster
selboy01 · 31/08/2015 15:50

im not saying wither was accidental. I knew what i was doing, i just said it was stupid of me. The driving was a complete concious decision that i thought id get away with, clearly not.
And the shoplifting was a spur of the moment thing while in the store, i never planned it. I accept the responsibility for it, just worried now as to what may happen.

In regards to insurance, i was on the insurance policy as a provisional driver, but with me being in the car myself i take it that was void.

OP posts:
BeaufortBelle · 31/08/2015 15:51

Let me get this straight. First of all you illegally drove a vehicle, without a licence to the local supermarket. At the supermarket you decided to steal goods worth £100.00. If the theft was a "one off" why did you have to take a car you had no legal right to drive?

Why would you even contemplate driving without a licence; presumably you didn't have insurance either? Have you thought about what might have happened if you had had an accident and someone had been permanently injured and left unable to work or care for themselves?

I find it very difficult to believe these crimes occurred out of the blue and aren't a way of life for you.

I hope that social services look at your background and take into account all your circumstances and provide you with support and guidance about how to care for your children. Whether you will go to prison or not I've no idea but I think if penalties for your criminal behaviour were higher then there would be fewer crimes committed. You have acted completely irresponsibly and I hope the police made that very clear to you.

Go to CAB tomorrow and see if they can give you some advice about what to expect and your "rights". You are probably entitled to legal aid.

Original poster
selboy01 · 31/08/2015 15:51

had nno intention of claiming i was innocent. I admitted what i had done

OP posts:
Nonnainglese · 31/08/2015 15:51

Hang on...the reason it was so much as it was 2 inks for my computer, stupid I know !
So you deliberately set out to steal them?

And I hope you didn't come on here looking for approval or sympathy. You're only sorry because you got caught, I bet.

Lweji · 31/08/2015 15:52

Two ink cartridges? How big were they to cost £100?

Singsongsung · 31/08/2015 15:53

Of course it will void it. It was a desperately selfish act, given the issues it would have caused other road users if you'd had an accident.

Gingermakesmesick · 31/08/2015 15:55

I am POSITIVE she is not looking for approval.

I also don't think she's looking for sympathy, but, we all do stupid stuff and I don't think I'm morally superior to the OP, myself. I just haven't ever been caught doing anything stupid.

I imagine a fine OP and community service, possibly and unfortunately it will appear on your record which will be an issue if you're applying for jobs with an enhanced CRB.

How did the police find out you drove there?

I'm guessing for whatever reason things were tough for you.

Original poster
selboy01 · 31/08/2015 15:56

No sympathy or approval wanted. I simply wanted to know if anyone has experienced this and can share advise on what may happen.
I fully accept responsibility for my actions, just wanted advice

OP posts:
JustOneMinuteAtATime · 31/08/2015 15:56

Did you buy anything?

nancy75 · 31/08/2015 15:56

I think you can be charged with more than one thing for the driving? No license and no insurance are 2 separate offences aren't they?
You will be banned from all adds stores without a doubt.
Tbh op if you had been stealing food to feed your kids I would have sympathy, but not just for nicking stuff you wanted but don't actually need. I worked in shops for many years and dealing with shoplifters was a total pain in the arse.

LineyReborn · 31/08/2015 15:57

You need legal advice.

And an early guilty plea and a statement of mitigation would seem sensible in the circumstances, though that's just my own opinion. The court will likely look at your circumstances when setting the fine.

Can you access free legal advice where you are? Your MP's office may be able to direct you to a free legal centre if you phone them up.

BeaufortBelle · 31/08/2015 15:57

Why did you need two ink cartridges? Surely one would have been enough? Oh, let me think, were you perhaps going to sell one or even two on ebay? Oh, yes, of course this is the first time you have got caught broken the law.

I have no sympathy for you at all. I have a great deal of sympathy for your poor children.

Singsongsung · 31/08/2015 15:57

I also don't think she's looking for sympathy, but, we all do stupid stuff and I don't think I'm morally superior to the OP, myself. I just haven't ever been caught doing anything stupid.

Crikey! Can't say I've ever driven without a license or shoplifted in my life!

ImperialBlether · 31/08/2015 15:58

Are you in Scotland, OP?

You were arrested, not questioned and presumably not charged? I don't understand this.

Gingermakesmesick · 31/08/2015 15:58

Well, you must be better than the OP then :)

I bet that makes you feel fabulous!

hattyhatter · 31/08/2015 15:59

So you're in Scotland?

MaillotRojoPan · 31/08/2015 15:59

Fines for both, or possibly a conditional discharge IF you have them in Scotland. ( no punishment so long as you don't repeat offend.) No social services involved. Expensive and embarassing lessons learned.

And ignore the MN pointy-fingered holier-than-thou crowd.

gamerchick · 31/08/2015 16:00

Just hope you get magistrates so it's done and dusted, if you're sent to crown they may make an example of you.

You're not being very convincing here that this was your first time so I doubt you will with the experts either. You probably should seek legal advice.