UNEMPLOYED shoplifter Tomas Merkelis decided to say it with flowers when his girlfriend became angry when he failed to get a job.

He stole a bunch of blooms for her from a supermarket and then decided to steal a trolley full of goods worth more than �80.

Appearing before Fenland magistrates today, the 26-year-old from Baxter Close in Wisbech admitted shoplifting on February 13.

He had been seen walking out of the Asda store in Wisbech with a trolley full of goods he had not paid for.

Prosecutor Andrea Fawcett said: “None of the items were in carrier bags. The manager checked CCTV footage and saw the defendant leaving without making any attempt to pay.”

Merkelis was found in his car; his vehicle’s keys were removed, and he shouted and walked away.

When told he would be arrested, Merkelis claimed he had made a mistake. But he later admitted he had no means to pay for the stolen goods worth �83.73.

Ms Fawcett added: “He had entered the store to steal items; he told police he had taken them to win his girlfriend back, by providing food and drink.”

Mitigating, Tiffany Meredith explained: “He had been out of work for more than a month, he had no money to put towards rent and food.

“He was living with his girlfriend, she was getting angry because he could not find work. So he decided to go to the shop to take these things, including some flowers for her.”

Merkelis, who has since got a job, was ordered to carry out 80 hours of unpaid work and pay �85 costs.