Drunk with the munchies steals shopping

A DRUNK man loaded a supermarket trolley with snacks – including Quavers and Jaffa Cakes – and attempted to wheel them out the exit. Stephen Ball, 28, pleaded guilty to theft at Huntingdon Magistrates Court last week. Prosecutor John Nooijen told the cour

A DRUNK man loaded a supermarket trolley with snacks - including Quavers and Jaffa Cakes - and attempted to wheel them out the exit.

Stephen Ball, 28, pleaded guilty to theft at Huntingdon Magistrates Court last week.

Prosecutor John Nooijen told the court that Ball had entered the Tesco store at Barford Road, St Neots at about 10pm on Saturday, May 5.

Mr Nooijen said Ball appeared drunk and filled his trolley with £50 worth of snack items, including pick 'n' mix, and alcohol.

Mr Nooijen said: "He walked to the exit and was challenged by security staff, at which point he left, but returned on two occasions, becoming verbally abusive to the security staff.

"In police interview Mr Ball said he had drunk half a bottle of vodka and cans of lager. He said he went into the store with no method of payment and had no intent to pay."

David Potter, mitigating told the court Ball, who now lives in Essex, had been visiting friends in St Neots, where he had grown up.

Mr Potter said Ball had gone to get snacks for the group and recognised that the incident was 'stupid'.

Magistrates ordered Ball, of Fairfax Drive, Southend, to attend the Drink Sense rehabilitation course and pay a £55 fine, plus £60 costs.