A SHOPLIFTER grabbed cheese and meat valued at £50 from the shelf of a Worcester store and smuggled it out under his jacket.

But Trevor White was spotted by a store detective who challenged him, led him back inside, and alerted the police, Mark Soper, prosecuting, told Worcester magistrates yesterday.

The Co-op theft happened at about 5.40pm on Wednesday, April 3, and, in an interview with police, he made a full admission of what he had done.

White also admitted handling stolen goods, after a friend gave him two pairs of Officers Club trousers, valued at £89.98, which had been snatched from the CrownGate store on Thursday, June 6.

In addition, the 32-year-old admitted stealing two DVDs on Friday, May 3, from the HMV store in Worcester's High Street, and obstructing a police officer by running away from an address in Teme Road, on Friday, May 17.

"He was remanded in custody in relation to all of these offences on Friday, June 21, and has remained there ever since," said Charles Hamer, defending.

"They were, in effect, all drugs-related offences."

For the thefts and obstruction of the police officer, White was given a drug treatment and testing order and ordered to pay £180 costs.

He also admitted five counts of failing to surrender to bail, for which he was given a 12-month conditional discharge.