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Phone theft homeless teen told to 'be optimistic'
By Tim TonkinDecember 21, 2011
A HOMELESS teenager has been told to buck up his ideas after appearing in court over the theft of a mobile phone.
Kieran Gould appeared before Aldershot Magistrates’ Court last Thursday (December 15) and admitted one count of theft.
Gould had been at the Step By Step homeless centre in Aldershot on October 14 when he took another member’s mobile phone.
The victim had left the phone on a bench momentarily and returned to find it had gone.
After alerting the centre, staff checked CCTV which revealed that Gould had walked over to the bench and picked up the phone before moving off to another area where he was seen putting it up under his shirt.
After his arrest, Gould, 19, said he had little recollection of the event but he made admissions in court.
Magistrates were told Gould had previously been living with his girlfriend but had been forced to leave following a dispute and was now jobless and sleeping rough.
District judge Philip Gillibrand addressed Gould, of no fixed abode, saying that despite the setbacks he had endured, it was up to him to sort himself out.
He said: “Look down and all you will see is the ground but look up and you will see the horizon.
“You are a young guy so look up and be optimistic.”
Gould was granted unconditional bail and told to return to the court on Friday (December 23) for sentencing.
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