Key Points
- Gareth Davis, who is 47 years old, living at Julia Mews, Horwich, pleaded guilty to the crime of theft from a shop.
- The stolen item in question is whey protein worth £20 from Boots in Bolton.
- The supposed crime took place on Saturday, 7 November.
- Davis was arraigned before the Wigan and Leigh Magistrates’ Court on Monday, 9 November.
- Davis got a £40 fine, and his guilty plea was taken into consideration while sentencing him.
- No costs were ordered to be paid.
- The charge was brought about under Sections 1(1) and 7 of the Theft Act 1968.
Bolton Crime (Manchester Mirror) November 14, 2026 — A 47-year-old man from Horwich has been fined £40 after admitting stealing £20-worth of whey protein from a Boots store in Bolton, according to reporting by The Bolton News.
Gareth Davis, of Julia Mews, Horwich, appeared before Wigan and Leigh Magistrates’ Court on Monday, November 9. He pleaded guilty to a charge of theft from a shop after whey protein valued at £20 was taken from Boots in Bolton on Saturday, November 7.
The case was reported by The Bolton News, which stated that Davis was fined £40 following his guilty plea. The court took the plea into account when deciding the financial penalty.
How much protein powder was stolen?
As reported by The Bolton News, the alleged theft involved whey protein with an estimated value of £20. The report did not identify the quantity, flavour, brand or specific type of whey protein involved.
Whey protein is a commonly sold dietary supplement, typically used by people seeking to increase their protein intake alongside exercise or as part of a fitness routine. The court proceedings, however, concerned the alleged theft of the product rather than its intended use.
Which court heard the case?
The hearing took place at Wigan and Leigh Magistrates’ Court on Monday, November 9. The Bolton News reported that Davis appeared before the court in connection with the alleged offence at the Bolton Boots store.
Magistrates’ courts in England and Wales generally deal with summary offences and certain either-way offences at first instance. The report did not state whether Davis was represented by a solicitor, whether he addressed the court, or whether any further conditions were imposed.
What fine did the court impose?
Davis was fined £40. The Bolton News reported that the guilty plea was considered when the fine was issued, and that no order for costs was made.
The report did not provide details of any payment timetable, means assessment, victim-surcharge order, or compensation order. It also did not state whether Davis had any previous convictions or whether the court considered a report before sentencing.
What law was cited in the case?
According to The Bolton News, the charge was made contrary to section 1(1) and section 7 of the Theft Act 1968.
Section 1(1) of the Theft Act 1968 sets out the basic offence of theft. Section 7 concerns the mode of trial and penalty for theft, which is relevant to how such allegations are dealt with in the criminal courts.
Was there any statement from Davis?
The Bolton News did not publish a direct statement from Gareth Davis, his legal representative, Boots, or the Crown Prosecution Service in the article available for this report.
The available reporting confirms the guilty plea, the value of the item alleged to have been taken, the fine imposed, and the absence of a costs order. It does not include further detail about the circumstances of the alleged theft or any mitigation put before the court.
What happens after a guilty plea?
A guilty plea means that a defendant accepts the offence as charged. In this case, The Bolton News reported that Davis admitted the theft charge and that the court took that admission into account when imposing the £40 fine.
The absence of a costs order, as reported, means that the court did not make an additional order requiring Davis to pay prosecution costs. The report did not state whether any other financial order was made.
Background of the development
The case concerns an allegation that whey protein worth £20 was taken from a Boots store in Bolton on Saturday, November 7. The Bolton News reported that Gareth Davis, 47, of Julia Mews in Horwich, subsequently pleaded guilty at Wigan and Leigh Magistrates’ Court on Monday, November 9.
The charge was recorded under section 1(1) and section 7 of the Theft Act 1968. The court fined Davis £40, taking his guilty plea into account, and made no order for costs.
Prediction: how this may affect local shoppers and retailers
For Bolton shoppers, the case is likely to be viewed as a routine retail-theft prosecution rather than a major change to local policing or store policy. The reported facts concern a single alleged theft of £20-worth of whey protein and a £40 fine, with no indication in the available reporting of a wider investigation or a series of linked incidents.
For Boots and other retailers in the area, the development may reinforce the importance of stock-control procedures, CCTV coverage, staff reporting and cooperation with police where theft is alleged. Retail loss prevention commonly relies on such measures, although the available report does not state which measures were used in this particular case.
For people in Horwich and Bolton who buy fitness supplements, the case is unlikely to affect the availability or price of whey protein. The reported outcome concerns an individual criminal matter, and there is no evidence in the available reporting that it will lead to broader restrictions on supplement sales.
