R v Beales Reading Magistrates Court 2018

The defendant appeared for trial in relation to an offence of theft by shoplifting and criminal damage. The defendant was alleged to have made admissions to the store manager after the store manager had detained him and said that if he returned his property, the store manager would let him go. It was argued on behalf of the defendant that the admissions ought to be excluded on the basis that the store manager had no power to detain the defendant in those circumstances. The District Judge agreed with defence representations and dismissed the case against the defendant.