A GOOD Samaritan had his phone stolen while trying to help a homeless man.

A member of staff at Darlington’s Book and Film Exchange lost his mobile phone after letting a homeless man use it to call his girlfriend.

Darryn James O’Loughlin visited the shop on Friday, September 26 and begged the victim for the use of his phone before running away with it.

Appearing at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates Court today (Tuesday, October 21), 20-year-old O’Loughlin was made to pay compensation of £10 and given a 12-month conditional discharge.

Paul Power, prosecuting, said: “He asked the victim if he could use his mobile phone, saying he was homeless and needed to contact his girlfriend.

“The victim had some sympathy with his position, having been in a similar position himself previously and handed him his phone.

“He started talking to another customer and the defendant left the store...the victim ran from the store but the defendant had run off.”

The court heard that O’Loughlin, of no fixed abode, had a history of offending linked to issues around homelessness and was apologetic.

Jane Scott, mitigating, said: “In the immediate aftermath he took himself straight to Darlington police station and handed himself in.

“He wanted to convey his apologies and wanted to say he was sorry and that the man did not deserve to be treated this way after being so kind.”