Thief sentenced for stealing cameras and precious wedding pictures during couple's big day

Darren McTaggart, from Bilston, strolled into Pendrell Hall in Codsall Wood pretending to make an enquiry about booking his own wedding there, a court heard.

But the 37-year-old walked out with camera equipment and cash after spotting bags unattended.

The equipment belonged to Shaun Cullis, a PCSO with Worcester Police who took photographs as a hobby and had been asked to document the wedding of Richard Jones and Anna-Maria from Bridgnorth.

Lenses, cameras, a flashgun, adaptor, microphone, batteries, various camera accessories and SD memory cards containing pictures of the day were taken as Mr Cullis took photos outside using a drone.

Cannock Magistrates' Court heard that McTaggart, who pleaded guilty to one count of theft, had left the venue after stealing three bags from a room on the ground floo.

Despite being warned he could face jail McTaggart was given a 21-week sentence suspended for 18 months and told to pay £6,300 in compensation for the equipment and £500 for the victim’s distress.

He will also have to pay a £115 victim’s surcharge and was told to carry out 120 hours unpaid work.

He was captured by CCTV and later identified by police. The court heard that McTaggart, of Lime Grove, had sold on the equipment at a knock-down price and when caught he had tried to get it back, offering to pay more than he had sold it for, however he was unsuccessful.

The memory cards containing that day’s photos were eventually returned, however the incident left Mr Cullis, who has a family and was expecting a child with his wife in the months after the wedding, ‘devastated’.

Mrs Maggie Meakin, prosecuting, said: “On the advice of staff at the venue, the victim had left his equipment in a room.

"He had gone outside to take aerial photographs using a drone when he was approached by a child who asked if a lens he found on the car park belonged to him.

"He went back inside to see that his equipment had gone, as well as the money he was paid to take photographs at the wedding.

“In a victim’s statement after the wedding, he said he was devastated and had trouble sleeping since."

Chief magistrate Peter Element told McTaggart: "This was a considerable financial and sentimental loss you caused.”