A THIEF stole two bottles of Martini from a Worcester store to find it was an "acquired taste".

CCTV cameras spotted 20-year-old Barry Simpson taking the £4.99 bottles from a shelf at Ambleside Food Market and hiding them in his coat at 8.30pm on April 22.

Susan Cliff, prosecuting, said the shop assistant had been watching CCTV when she saw two young men hanging around the shop.

"They came up to her and asked if there were any jobs going," she said.

"When she returned to say she didn't have any application forms left, they went and hung around the spirits.

"They each selected two bottles and concealed them in their coats."

'Amateurish'

David Taylor, defending, said it was an "amateurish and impulsive" theft by Simpson, who lives in Rose Avenue, Tolladine. "He intended to drink the Martini but had never had it before."

"After starting one of the bottles, he found it to be an acquired taste he did not like."

Mr Taylor appealed for Droitwich magistrates to bear in mind Simpson, who admitted theft, had not been convicted of theft from shops since 1999.

He was fined £70 and ordered to pay £9.98 compensation and £50 costs.

Simpson will also re-appear before Droitwich magistrates on July 11 for a pre-trial review after denying burglary at KJC Mobile Phones.

His co-accused, John Croke of Chedworth Drive, Warndon failed to attend court and a warrant was issued for his arrest.