Carry on stealing and I'll find you some rent free accommodation judge tells shoplifter

A SHOPLIFTER lined two bags with tin foil in a bid to beat a supermarket alarm system. But the linings failed to silence the alarm at the Asda store in Wisbech – and staff were alerted as Valerijs Bubleiko tried to walk out without paying for two bottles

A SHOPLIFTER lined two bags with tin foil in a bid to beat a supermarket alarm system.

But the linings failed to silence the alarm at the Asda store in Wisbech - and staff were alerted as Valerijs Bubleiko tried to walk out without paying for two bottles of alcohol and computer accessories worth almost �150.

"He told police he was unemployed and not on benefit, to had to steal items to raise cash," District Judge Ken Sheraton heard from prosecutor Andrea Fawcett at Wisbech courthouse.

The theft put Bubleiko in breach of a conditional discharge he was given for another shoplifting offence last month, for stealing a camera and a sat nav system from Tesco.

"He should know that if he steals to pay the rent, I can find him somewhere to live where he does not have to pay rent," warned Judge Sheraton.

Bubleiko, 27, of Sutton Road, Leverington, was given a 200-hour unpaid work order, with �85 costs. But the Judge told him: "If you fail to do the work you will end up in prison; and if you steal again you will end up in prison, the choice is yours."

Prosecuting, Andrea Fawcett said Bubleiko set off the supermarket alarm at 6.40pm on February 19. He was challenged, and produced a bottle of liqueur, a bottle of cognac, and four computer memory sticks.

She said he had two bags lined with foil, and admitted he had tried to circumnavigate the alarm system.

Mitigating, Jeff Lewis claimed that only one of Bubleiko's bags were lined with foil.

"Through me he apologises for his foolish actions," he said. "He had drunk a couple of cans of lager and felt disinhibited."

"He is not a professional thief, but foolishly he tried to supplement his income.