HAD the man who paid Clive Taylor a visit on Christmas Day with a sack of goodies been sporting a red suit and white beard, Taylor might not have ended up in court this week.
But instead, the man was a thief who had stolen electrical items from Grantham recycling plant environCom, and not a particularly bright thief at that, as they were all broken.
Taylor, of Thames Road, Grantham, appeared at Grantham Magistrates’ Court accused of handling stolen goods.
The court heard how the 22-year-old was paid a visit on Christmas Day by someone hoping to sell to him the items, which were taken from the plant on Christmas Eve.
Taking a look at them and seeing they were broken, Taylor turned him away.
Jill Derby, prosecuting, told magistrates the security manager at environCom had done a little digging of his own in the community and on December 28 he called police to report that some of the items had been recovered in Thames Road.
Forensic analysts found a fingerprint belonging to Taylor and he was arrested.
Rob Arthur, defending, said Taylor has turned a new leaf, from being someone who was frequently in court since 2003 to someone who has not appeared before them since 2010.
He said: “He has clearly put his history behind him.”
Taylor was fined £65 and told to pay £85 costs and a £15 victim surcharge.