A MAN has admitted stealing more than £1,000 of clothing from Cheshire Oaks stores.

Hakim Smith, 41, of Freshford Walk, Manchester, pleaded guilty to three charges of shoplifting when he appeared at Chester Magistrates Court on Tuesday, January 25.

He appeared with co-defendant Hanifa Douglas, 28, of Wastdale Road, Manchester, who pleaded guilty to driving without due care and attention in a related incident at Cheshire Oaks on the same day, on December 30, 2021.

Prosecuting, Alan Currums said it was at about 5pm on December 30 when security staff at Diesel reported a theft of sportswear.

CCTV officers traced the offence to a white VW Polo which was driven by Douglas and Smith was in the car.

The car was driving the wrong way in the direction of McDonald's in Cheshire Oaks, at a time which Mr Currums said would have been busy with traffic and pedestrians.

Staff suspected the car was getting away in a hurry and an officer intercepted the car, which stopped.

Inside was found to be £320 of sportswear from JD Sports, £270 of underwear from Calvin Klein stores and £487 of sportswear from Diesel store.

All items were recovered.

When interviewed, Smith said he had been solely responsible for the thefts, and had gone with a foil-lined bag.

He had 27 previous convictions, including ones for shoplifting.

The court heard a pre-sentence report would be required for Smith, which would provide extensive personal mitigation, as he had kidney failure and was pre-dialysis.

He was the sole carer for a 16-year-old child and the offence had been borne out of a drug relapse, after his mum had passed away last August.

Douglas, representing herself, said she wanted to apologise for what she described as "a stupid mistake".

Magistrates handed Douglas a £169 fine, plus £85 court costs and a £34 victim surcharge, with six points added to her driver's licence.

They ordered a pre-sentence report for Smith, with chair of magistrates Paul Storrar warning him "custody is highly likely".

Smith was bailed on condition he does not enter Cheshire apart from his required court appearances.