A THIEF who stole underpants from a Fenland store will be spending Christmas in jail.

The shoplifter had been out of prison just 11 days when he went on a drunken spree in Wisbech, stealing clothing and booze.

Those latest offences put Andrius Vaiciulevicius in breach of his prison licence so Fenland magistrates sent him back to jail until January 13 to complete his previous sentence.

Vaiciulevicius, 29, of Moneybank, Wisbech, admitted stealing underpants and sports socks worth �12 from Peacocks, and stealing three bottles of red wine from the Co-op worth �11.97 on November 9. He was given a concurrent six week sentence for the two recent thefts.

“The defendant was seen by a member of the public in Peacocks, as he concealed the pants and socks in his jacket and left the store,” said prosecutor Emma Duckett.

“An hour later he was seen in the Co-op, taking three bottles of wine and placing them in his jacket.”

When interviewed by police, Vaiciulevicius said he had drunk a large amount of alcohol before committing the offences.

“He lost his job at the end of 2009 and resorted to drinking, to hide away from the problems that face him,” explained solicitor Tim Bartlam.

“He does not work, and relies on friends to support him.

“It is irksome that our prisons are being filled up with people in his position; he says he would like the opportunity of carrying out unpaid work.”