A thief stole three bottles of perfume after stopping in a west Cumbrian town because he “found the name funny”.

Martin Mongan, 38, stopped in Cockermouth with his son for food and a walk on May 24.

They had gone into Boots on Main Street at about 4pm, where Mongan took three bottles of perfume, Workington Magistrates’ Court heard.

Members of staff had confronted them but they denied any wrongdoing and left.

Pamela Fee, prosecuting, said the other male had then returned to the shop and handed in one bottle of perfume.

The incident was reported to the police, who found the pair in a car. Mongan admitted the offence and put the items on the dashboard.

He told police they had stopped in Cockermouth for food and a walk because they found the name funny. They had gone to the Boots store, where he picked up three bottles of perfume.

Mongan told police he didn’t know why he had done it.  

John Cooper, defending, said: “He says he can’t understand why he did it. It was opportunistic. He was here for the anniversary of a family funeral.”

Mongan, of Glenbawn Crescent, Dunmurray, Antrim, Northern Ireland, pleaded guilty to theft from a shop.

He was fined £40 and must pay £85 costs and a £34 victim surcharge.