An Isle of Wight father said he ‘should have known better’ after admitting to pinching a Ladbrokes worker’s Samsung phone.

Jermaine Jack-Linden, of Upper Highland Road, Ryde, pleaded guilty to theft by finding at the Isle of Wight Magistrates’ Court earlier this month.

Liz Miller, prosecuting, said a worker at Ladbrokes on Ryde High Street was putting up a display, using a photo to guide him on November 3, 2023.

Ms Miller told the court the worker left his phone on a table and went behind the counter to serve a customer when Jack-Linden entered the bookies and started playing on the machines.

Isle of Wight County Press: Ladbrokes on Ryde High StreetLadbrokes on Ryde High Street (Image: IWCP)

After leaving the machine and walking towards the table, the 40-year-old could be seen looking around while angling himself away from the CCTV before leaving the shop, said Ms Miller.

The staff member went to retrieve his Samsung Galaxy A34, valued at £339.30, to continue work on the display and discovered it was missing.

The prosecution said police were able to identify the thief as Jack-Linden from CCTV images.
Jack-Linden, representing himself, said he uses the bookies all the time and went in to play the games with no intention of stealing anything.

He told magistrates he looked over and saw the phone, not realising it belonged to the shop worker.

Jack-Linden told the court: “I made the mistake of picking up something I shouldn’t have.

“I’m a 40-year-old man with three children. I should have known better, and I’m sorry.”

Magistrates handed Jack-Linden a 12-month community order to include 40 hours of unpaid work and ordered him to pay £339.30 compensation, a £114 surcharge and £85 in costs.