A MAN from Worcester stole a cash tin from a Chinese takeaway only to find it had no money in it, a court was told.

James Curtis, of Ploughmans Close, Brickfields, swiped the metal tin from Golden City in Brickfields Road on Friday, September 17 last year.

Sarah Stock, prosecuting at Worcester Magistrates Court, said the 18-year-old walked past the takeaway before it had opened but the door was ajar.

He went in, reached over the counter and took the tin. Curtis later realised it only had receipts in it so he threw it away.

The incident was captured on CCTV and after distributing stills of the offender, Curtis was eventually arrested on Wednesday, February 2.

He pleaded guilty to theft and said he committed the offence because he was drunk.

Magistrates gave Curtis a conditional discharge for nine months, ordered him to pay £8 compensation to Golden City and £85 in costs.