A THIEF who stole from three shops needed money to buy food, a court has heard.

Stephen Anderson landed himself in court after he stole the items in incidents spanning four months.

The Barrow man shoplifted from Aldi, Tesco and Boots having found himself in a financial 'hole', South Cumbria Magistrates' Court was told.

The 39-year-old admitted three charges of shoplifting when he appeared before the bench.

Prosecutor Lee Dacre described how just before 6pm on September 28, Anderson entered Aldi, walked to the alcohol section, picked up nine bottles of vodka worth around £143 and put them in a bag.

He then ran out of the store without paying, said Mr Dacre.

In another incident at the Tesco Metro in Flass Lane on October 25, the defendant went to the store and placed £75 worth of meat products in a bag before leaving the store without paying.

On December 8, Anderson entered Boots and stole fragrance gift sets from the Christmas gift aisle worth £101, the court was told.

The court heard Anderson was spotted in Boots by an off-duty police officer.

In mitigation, Andy Gallagher described how Anderson had faced financial hardship because he was unable to work.

Mr Gallagher said: "Until about 12 months ago he was working as a ground worker supervisor but for the last 12 months he's been unable to work due to illness, primarily mental health, and as a result he fell into something of a hole financially and was struggling to pay for food.

"On each of these occasions he mentioned he had taken the items with a view to selling them to purchase food for himself."

Anderson, of Broad Close, was sentenced to a community order, requiring him to carry out 60 hours of unpaid work.

Chair of the bench Jackie Foster said: "You've pleaded guilty to three offences today of shoplifting and while they are unsophisticated there is a pattern of offending emerging with the offences.

"There is some degree of planning in that you entered these stores with the intention to steal these items."