RLP letter and courts

[rlss]

Hello, I'm pretty upset with what should I do so I thought you guys might be able to help me out...

 

Last month I was caught in Tesco with electronic items in my backpack worth of £110,

my details were taken and

 

the police was called,

afterwards I was not arrested,

because I proved the location where I live at.

 

I received a letter saying that I need to go to Crown Court next month to plea guilty or not.

 

I think the best thing to do is to plead guilty,

because I surely believe this was my greatest mistake I've done so far,

and they probably have plenty of CCTV footage.

 

I am a EU student here in the UK and I have no other offences so far in my life.

 

I believe I will get away with a caution and worry about if I might get harder punishment than that.

 

.. On the letter that I've received from the police it says that if I plea guilty as soon as possible

I might get a reduced fine for up to 1/3 of it and

 

I think I should write a letter to the judge explaining the situation.

 

If someone has an idea how I should format or structure such a letter it would be of great help...

 

However, the main thing that about this topic is that

 

today I've received a letter from Retail Loss Prevention Ltd,

which says I need to pay a total sum of £308.44 for settling this claim against me.

 

I'm really worried about the amount of money that they request from me,

since I am a not working student here and I live with up to £250-£300 per month.

 

I don't want to let my parents know about my ridiculous mistake

and I was told by a friend that such agencies do not have the right to request any money legally.

 

I don't have money for solicitor for an individual advice and tried giving money

to some online solicitor services but without any luck...

 

It would be of a great help advising me about my situation and

 

I thank you in advance.

[ims21]

Hi and welcome to CAG.

 

Leaving RLP to one side for the moment, they are easily dealt with, but who has sent the letter about the Crown Court?

[rebel11]

Hi rlss

 

Welcome to CAG

 

First thing is to stay calm.

 

Can you please post all the letters you have received removing all your personal details and reference numbers.

[rlss]

Hello and thanks for the quick reply,

 

The letter was send from Greater Manchester Police and

 

it says that I need to appear at the Crown Court in Manchester at a certain time and date next month.

 

I was told by the kind police officers who drove me back home that I would probably get a caution

for about £200 and that would be it.

 

I have a MC100 form attached to the same letter where I need to state my income and outgoings

and carry it over to the court with me.

[rlss]

OK, I will take photos of the letters and will hide the details. Should I post them in this topic?

[rebel11]

Yes please.

 

OK, I will take photos of the letters and will hide the details. Should I post them in this topic?

[citizenB]

Yes, please post them on this thread. If you could convert your images to pdf format, and try to keep the file size around 1-2 mb then you shouldnt have any problems. Do make sure you edit out any personal information or court references.

 

The information below should help..

 

 

Dx100 – Instructions on uploading pdfs

Scan the requiredletters/agreements/sheets

as a picture file

remove all personal info including barcodes etc. using paint

but leave all figures and dates.

Go to one of the many free online pdf converter websites

convert the image to pdf format.

or if you have PDF as an installed printer drive use that

open a new message box here

hit go advanced below the message box

hit manage attachments below that box

hit the add files button on the top right

hit select files, navigate to your file on your pc

hit upload files

NB: you can set where it goes in the post by hitting insert inline.

Then hit reply button

[citizenB]

An S.O.S has also been sent for further advice .. I am sure someone will be along soon, if not this evening, then certainly over the weekend.

[rlss]

What do you mean with an S.O.S has been sent?

 

Sent where?

 

I'm trying to stay calm but it's a bit upsetting the fact that I need to go to courts

and be sued for my stupid behaviour...

 

However, I'm attaching an archive with all the pages from the police and the rlp letter.

 

you for your help again. (btw, I've changed the attachment once and it says it needs approval)

Edited May 9, 2014 by rlss

[citizenB]

What do you mean with an S.O.S has been sent? Sent where? I'm trying to stay calm but it's a bit upsetting the fact that I need to go to courts and be sued for my stupid behaviour... However, I'm attaching an archive with all the pages from the police and the rlp letter. Thank you for your help again.

 

I have sent a message to other members of the site team who might be able to advise further.

[ims21]

citizenB means that an SOS has been sent to members who may be able to help you. Nothing sinister.

 

Someone will be along as soon as they can.

[rlss]

Sorry for acting like this, and thank you for prioritising my issue. I have digged the internet to find a place like this from what I can see on the other topics...

[renegadeimp]

Woah. You arent going to be sued. Stop thinking that.

[silverfox1961]

Hi and welcome

 

This is not the crown court, it is a magistrates court hearing. This is a lower court and they will deal with you accordingly.

 

As this is a criminal matter, you should be entitled to legal aid so you could try and find a local Citizens Advice Bureau who can help you find a solicitor to represent you.

 

I assume you are going to plead guilty so by having a brief, they should be able to promote your mitigating circumstances.

 

As for RLP, they have nothing to do with the British legal system. They are out for money, nothing more and their speculative invoice is not enforceable.

 

this matter is being dealt with in the right way, via the courts, not by RLPs dubious practices.

[rlss]

Hello and thanks for clarifying that this is not a crown court, might have mistaken by the name of the place...

The other thing is that I can't spend huge amounts of money for solicitors and I believe it would require some to have one.

[ericsbrother]

If you intend to plead guilty you dont need a solicitor. The income form will help the court to know your income and outgoings so they can set a time to pay any fine. You can offer mitigation that is suitable to your circumstances, for example an explanation of what was going on in your mind at the time of the theft or explaining that as a student you can only afford to pay a fine off at a small amount per week or month etc.

Obviously, if you plead guilty you will get a criminal record but this would apply if you accepted a police caution or plead not guilty but are found guilty by the magistrate(s). Better to accept what you have done is done and offer mitigation if you have anything to say, apologise for the trouble you have caused and you are likely to receive a fine of around £150

Take no notice of RLP, they have nothing to do with the justice system and you should not expect to pay twice. I presume that the goods were returned undamaged so no loss has been made by the store.

[rlss]

Thank you for your answer. Is it my responsibility to offer mitigation to the judge? I thought I will be going there just to give explanations and what I plea and to hear their decision. I have started saving some money to cover a fine of around that size, so I believe I could be able to pay it after the court.

I want to ask you people is there any place where I can see an example of how should I format a letter to the judge explaining the situation and peading guilty about my mistake. I have never dealt with such a situation before and I don't want to look like a fool in their eyes...

[renegadeimp]

If you represent yourself, then yes. If you have a solicitor, then before the hearing, they will take you to one side and gather all info. Then they present it to the judge in the best format they can.

 

If you dont have a solicitor, try and get to the court as early as possible, and speak to the duty solicitor. They work on a first come, first served basis.

[rebel11]

Hi rlss

 

You could seek help from CAB (free) if you can't afford a solicitor. They have offices scattered all around the country. You don't have to book an appointment, but might have to wait sometime.

 

http://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/index/getadvice.htm

[rlss]

Thank you, I don't know what would I get from CAB, because I feel that right now I might know what would possibly happen. I have written an apology letter and really don't know if the format is adequate and is what I said is right... so if you could take a quick look at it and tell me what you think I would appreciate it a lot. Any constructive critiques are welcome.

 

Magistrates Court

In accordance to ref. number:

 

Dear Sir/Madam,

 

I have received a summons to attend the courthouse at ***** on ****** 2014 to answer on a charge from ******* for stealing numerous electrical items and various other items, to the value of £110.94, belonging to Tesco.

 

On ****** after I was at university at around **** PM I went to Tesco at ****** with the intention to buy myself food and go home. After I went past the electronics section I’ve put a couple of audio and computer related products in my basket. After that I was on the DIY section where I’ve got a screwdriver and a couple of wrenches. After going up at the end of the store I’ve realised that I would not be able to afford all the items I've had in my basket and instead of leaving them back on the shelf I’ve felt a sense of great guilt and despite the fact that I was aware that I am watched I’ve moved all the items in my backpack, leaving the basket with food products only. Just after I’ve paid for the food products I was asked by one of the two security guards to follow them and was brought to a small room at the back of the store, where one of the guards was standing against the door, while I was giving my personal details and explaining what happened to the other. Shortly I was informed of the price value of the products and that the police will be called. After giving my details to the police and after the facts were told to them by the security guards I was driven to my address to prove that I live there and was notified to expect a summons letter from the court.

 

The following days I was trying to analyse my behaviour and was confused and disgusted of it. I wasn’t able to give a rational and respectful explanation to myself with what I did. I’ve decided to address my issue to a friend who is graduating with psychology, where I’ve explained that I have never stolen or done anything bad in my life before and am against such acts, but I have proved wrong. After discussing some recent events in my life in a couple of sessions I was told that such behaviour might be related to high levels of stress and not particularly social lifestyle, which I have noted and work on. I know that this is not an excuse for my unlawful behaviour and that personal issues should not affect one’s decisions in such arrogant and immoral way. I realise how wrong I was and that theft is a serious crime.

 

With this letter I want to plead guilty and admit that I was wrong and I accept full responsibility for my behaviour. I promise the court that I will never do this again. I am extremely ashamed about my actions.

 

I can understand that it may be difficult for the court to accept my apology, but I hope that this letter might give me an opportunity to show my remorse.

 

Sincerely yours,

********

[renegadeimp]

have you been able to speak to a duty solicitor? It would have more clout coming from them.

[rlss]

Should I speak with him on the day of the court or I could go there and find him and talk about it? And what could he do? Read my letter and give suggestions?

[renegadeimp]

At court, they always have a a duty solicitor. however, he/she works on a first come, first served basis and they are normally VERY VERY busy. Thats why people who'se court times arent till late afternoon, normally get in there for 8.30 in the morning so they can speak to the solicitor.

[rlss]

Would I be able to meet him in other day, because my court time is early in the morning?

[SabreSheep]

Have you thought about seeing your gp and getting refereed for counseling to tackle your life issues that led up to this point.

Admitting you have a problem and then getting proof that you are trying to tackle it might help you. A service provider should be able to produce a letter proving your attendance ettc