A DRUNK man spent more than a penny when he urinated in a storage bin containing up to £1,500 of security tags at a 24-hour supermarket.
Carl Beacock called into the Tesco Extra store at St Stephen's shopping centre in Hull at 3am for more alcohol after a birthday night out with friends.
Beacock, 27, told police he was "caught short" and urinated into a bin, left in an aisle, seemingly unaware it contained expensive security tags that are attached to bottles.
Kyoko Gilligan, prosecuting at Hull Magistrates' Court, said: "A security guard saw the defendant urinate into a bin.
"Inside the bin was a number of valuable security tags, the value of which was somewhere between £1,000 and £1,500."
Police were called and Beacock was charged with causing criminal damage, which he admitted.
Richard Drew, for Beacock, said his client, of 20th Avenue, north Hull estate, deeply regretted his actions.
He said: "It was a reckless and indiscreet act that has led to a hefty financial cost."
Mr Drew said Beacock's birthday had been a few days after the offence, but he had been celebrating it early.
"He was heavily in drink," he said. "He had walked down the drink aisle, but had found himself caught short.
"He urinated into a plastic receptacle. It thought it was more appropriate than the floor of the aisle.
"He does accept it was completely unacceptable behaviour."
Mr Drew said it was "extremely unfortunate" the storage bin contained items of such value.
The solicitor said, in mitigation, that his client had been out of prison for seven months and had kept out of trouble prior to the night in question.
Details of the offence that led to the custodial sentence were not mentioned in court.
"Mr Beacock has made some very real and significant progress," said Mr Drew. "I am sure the probation service would confirm this.
"He tells me he is doing very well."
Mr Drew said Beacock had settled well following his release from prison. He lives with his partner and their three-year-old son.
"This was not a 'like' offence," said Mr Drew.
"There is nothing of a similar nature on his record.
"He simply drank to excess and is sorry."
Unemployed Beacock was told by the chairman of the bench that urinating inside a supermarket was "a very silly thing to do".
The magistrate added: "A strong lad like you needs something to do."
Beacock was ordered to complete 80 hours' unpaid work and pay £260 compensation to Tesco.
No costs were awarded and a victim surcharge was waived.
The money will be deducted at a rate of £5 per week from Beacock's Jobseeker's Allowance.
The court was told the security tags will never be used again.
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