AN ALCOHOLIC who repeatedly appears before the Isle of Wight courts for shoplifting was caught by police guzzling wine he had just stolen.  

Ian Wathen admitted two charges of shoplifting in Newport — clothing from TK Maxx, worth £95.96, on August 10, and two bottles of wine, a sandwich and crisps worth £23.35, from Morrisons, on September 21.  

The 41-year-old, of Barton Road, Newport, entered TX Maxx, selected four items of men's clothing and made off.

A PCSO gave chase and Wathen discarded the items in a bin in Town Lane. The items were recovered, said Lauren Stone, prosecuting, at the Isle of Wight Magistrates' Court.

On September 21, Wathen was arrested on suspicion of shoplifting after police found him drinking wine in St James's Street.

Wathen told officers he stole the wine and food from Morrisons because he was "an alcoholic and needed to eat".

Wathen made 'no comment' responses to questions about the TK Maxx thefts.

Wathen admitted breaking the terms of a conditional discharge, made by magistrates on August 22, for other shoplifting offences.

For Wathen, Michael McGoldrick said his client struggles with alcoholism and stole because "he needed a drink to get him through the day".

Magistrates ordered a report on Wathen, prior to sentencing on November 3.