Two men filmed being dragged from car by private security after stealing from Tesco plead guilty to theft

TWO men who were dragged out of a car by private security officers after they filled it with stolen goods from Tesco have admitted theft in connection with the incident.

Bryan McDonagh, 18, and Jamie McDonagh, 28, each pleaded guilty to theft when they appeared at Chelmsford Magistrates' Court.

The court heard that the pair stole multiple items, to the value of £2911.25, from the Tesco store in Waltham Abbey, Essex, on October 2 2023.

The theft made headlines at the time as the pair and a third man were filmed loading the stolen goods from a trolley into the boot of a car before getting into it.

The vehicle was quickly surrounded by a group of men from the private security and investigation firm TM-Eye.

It's staff had been enjoying lunch at the supermarket when they saw the three brazenly stroll from the shop towards the car with the stolen loot before filling the boot.

After a scuffle, TM-Eye staff managed to pull the men from the car and restrain two of them until police arrived.

The McDonaghs were arrested and later charged.

TM-Eye was set up by former Met Police DCI Dave McKelvey and employs a number of former Met Police detectives.

At a hearing at the same court in April Bryan McDonagh, from Maltby Drive, Enfield, north London, was fined £219 and received a community order of unpaid work for 80 hours.

Jamie McDonagh, from The Avenue,Tottenham, north London, was also charged with an assault during the incident.

He denied the offence and the case was adjourned for trial. He will be sentenced for the theft after this.