A MORECAMBE traveller who stole from a man he was conducting business with in Gloucester, has been hit in the pocket by a judge.

At Gloucester Crown Court, Thomas Allison, 22, of Hillcart Lane Caravan Site, admitted theft of keys, car stereo equipment and clothing from Richard Knight in November last year.

Another Morecambe man who was with him at the time, Peter Knowles, 19, of Scafell Avenue, admitted handling the goods knowing or believing they were stolen.

Mark Worsley, prosecuting, said the victim was in a car in Gloucester with a third person when the two defendants came up behind in a Ford Transit van.

"They were known to the person in Mr Knight's car and there was stalk of some sort of liaison involving drugs," he said.

The two vehicles then drove in convoy to a spot in Gloucester where the theft took place.

Mr Knight fled and called police on his mobile phone and the two defendants were arrested shortly afterwards and the goods recovered.

The court heard that both men were of previous good character.

Ordering Allison to pay a total of £500, a fine of £360 and £140 compensation, Recorder Michael De Navarro QC told him: "This was a case which involved the drug scene and in that connection the loser does not appear to have been wholly innocent."

Peter Knowles was fined £250.

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