A THIEF banned from a town’s shops stole beef joints from a supermarket ‘because he was hungry’.

Samuel Wallace, 34, entered Asda at Mossbay in Workington on July 26 which he was banned from doing under a Criminal Behaviour Order imposed last year.

He went to the meat aisle and placed two beef joints worth £41.30 into his bag and then left, making no attempt to pay, Workington Magistrates’ Court heard.

Pamela Fee, prosecuting, said the defendant was later interviewed by police and admitted the offence. He said he had fallen out with his mum and had no money or food. He was hungry.

He was aware of the Criminal Behaviour Order but thought it was just Workington town centre shops.

Wallace pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to theft from a shop and breach of a Criminal Behaviour Order.

John Cooper, defending, said: “This appeared to be very much a one-off incident. He was in a bad place.

“He knew he had committed theft. I think he knew police would come and arrest him. It was a significant period of time before police caught up with him.”

A probation officer told the court that Wallace had been staying with his mother but he left after a disagreement. He decided to steal meat from the shop.

Wallace admitted it was ‘a stupid thing to do’. He was now back living with his partner in Northside and hopes to get back in employment after Christmas, the court was told.

He struggles with a back injury and goes to regular meetings with Recovery Steps – an addiction service.

Magistrates imposed a 12-month community order with a 26-day accredited programme and five rehabilitation activity requirement days.

Wallace, of Mitchell Avenue, Northside, Workington, was fined £120 and ordered to pay £85 costs and a £114 victim surcharge. He must also pay £41.30 in compensation to Asda.