Stealing is a serious offence, but one business owner couldn't help but feel happy when someone who had previously stolen from him left a heartwarming handwritten apology note anonymously, as well as a £10 note.
Halil Kurt, who owns two shops in Crouch End, north London, an area popular with students from a nearby school, wasn't expecting an apology from the shoplifter, much less compensation for the ice cream they took.
The 37-year-old was standing outside the branch of a Londis he runs on May 17 when he saw a student walk into his other store, Weston Off Licence, down the road.
Mr Kurt walked back into the store to see if the student needed help – but instead found the person had gone, and they had left a note on the counter.
The surprised newsagent owner found a handwritten note inside with a £10 note stuck to it. The letter contained a heartfelt apology for stealing ice cream many years earlier when he was "significantly younger," taking "full responsibility".
The dad-of-three said: "It was quite emotional. As I read the letter I was just like happy, that kind of thing. It made me happy that someone is still doing what's supposed to be done even though they made a mistake in the past."
The letter read: "I am writing this letter to apologise for my actions of shoplifting from your store.
"I want to take full responsibility for my actions and I am deeply sorry for the inconvenience that I have caused."
The author of the letter assured Mr Kurt that he'd learnt his lesson and would "never shoplift again," but that wasn't all.
His letter continued: "I have enclosed £10 to compensate for my actions and the goods that I took. I hope you can forgive me sincerely."
After reading the letter Mr Kurt felt "real emotion" as he really "wasn't expecting" it.
Mr Kurt still doesn't know who left the letter. He even checked CCTV and saw it was a student, but couldn't be sure whether it was left on behalf of someone else, or not.
He added: "All these students come into my shop every day and I'm always friendly with them.
"I give them sweets sometimes if they don't have money. I'm like an uncle but they have to follow the rules.
"If people do something like this and they pay it back I am the happiest person in the world."
David Winskill, who lives nearby, commented on the relief the shoplifter must have felt after fessing up to the petty crime.
He said: "It's clear that this has been playing on the mind of someone, possibly for decades.
"The sense of relief they are feeling is wonderful. It's really brought a lot of joy to people who have heard about this in that having a conscience still exists in a lot of people."
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