A THIEF has been convicted of stealing from a Poole shop after the store's CCTV image of him committing the crime was printed in the Daily Echo, Bournemouth magistrates heard.

The photograph of Derrick Lawson, of Lagland Road in Poole, was identified by a member of the public and the 48-year-old was then arrested.

This is the first prosecution of someone featured in the Echo Eyewitness Campaign, which publishes images of people captured on security cameras at crime scenes across the area.

Lawson pleaded guilty to stealing a coat worth £79.99 from Pipler Chandlery on Poole Quay, in July last year.

Concerning the day the theft occurred, Andrew Cannon, prosecuting, said: "The store was visited by a group of people and the proprietor was suspicious about them and viewed the CCTV.

"He also discovered the jacket had been stolen. Stills were taken from the CCTV and reproduced in the Daily Echo and members of the public invited to identify the man.

"From the information provided police officers arrested Lawson at his home."

Defending Lawson, Jonathan Morrissey said his client had been drunk at the time of the offence and had gone into the shop to avoid his girlfriend, who was also walking along Poole Quay, and with whom he had been arguing for several days.

"But she saw him and followed him into the shop," said Mr Morrissey. "He was trying to get away from her and stupidly took the coat. He says he's sorry for what has happened." The court heard how Lawson had later sold the coat for £30.

Lawson was given a 12-month conditional discharge, and ordered to pay compensation of £79.99 and £34 costs.

We would like to stress that people seen in the Echo Eyewitness Campaign are not necessarily directly connected with the offences under investigation. Their presence in the photographs may be entirely innocent.