Supermarket discount sticker scam - man fined

Tomasz Miksta, a 34-year-old Lithuanian living in Scotland, travelled to a number of Asda stores in West Lothian and Fife to carry out the scam.

He was finally caught when attempting to pay £2.99 for items normally retailing for £53.

Miksta, of Laing Gardens, Broxburn, appearing at Dunfermline Sheriff Court with a translator, admitted that between November 7 and December 1 2015 at Asda, Queensgate, Glenrothes, he stole a quantity of groceries and household items.

He also admitted carrying out the same offence at the supermarket in Station Road, Armadale between December 11-13, and again at Asda, Almondvale Road, Livingston on December 13.

Depute fiscal Dev Kapadia said, “The modus operandi was the same in all three charges.

“The accused appears to have used ‘Whoops’ labels which are used in Asda on items which are soon going to be past their sell-by date.

“He was using these labels when he was scanning goods which should have been full price.

“In one case, the price of the goods should have been £53 but he paid just £2.99.”

Defence solicitor Michael Sweeney told the court his client, married with two children, had lived in Scotland for ten years and was unemployed at the time.

He had carried out the offences “to provide for the family”, said Mr Sweeney, adding that since then he had gained lawful employment.

“He accepts he shouldn’t have done any of this and when interviewed by police he accepted his guilt at that stage,” said the solicitor.

“He had decided to try this and then he had continued with that behaviour.”

Sheriff Craig McSherry fined Miksta £375 and another £140 for him failing to appear in court in September.