A TEEN thief who stole beer from a shop twice in three hours could not remember the incident because he was so drunk, a court was told.

Richy Thomas took Budweiser worth £16 from Co-op in Gresham Road, Dines Green, Worcester, in two separate thefts on Tuesday, July 3.

Sarah Stock, prosecuting, told Worcester magistrates a shop assistant saw the 19-year-old, whom she had known for several years, enter the store at about 6pm.

She said a member of public then informed the shop assistant they had seen a man matching Thomas’ description stealing a case of Budweiser.

Mrs Stock said he came back to the store at 9pm and took another case of Budweiser.

The shop assistant followed him out of the store and shouted at him to return, but he carried on walking.

Thomas was arrested and interviewed, when he stated he could not remember anything to do with the incident as he was so intoxicated at the time.

He admitted it could have been him and that he wore the clothing described by witnesses.

Thomas, of Sedge Close, Dines Green, pleaded guilty to two charges of theft and a third charge of breaching a conditional discharge which was imposed on June 26 for an attempted theft of lager.

Mark Lister, defending, said his client had appeared twice at the court in a short period for similar offences and asked magistrates to request the Probation Service carry out a fast delivery report.

He said: “You may think unpaid work is appropriate but you may feel a short period of supervision will assist with nipping this in the bud.”

Following completion of the report, Dick Schwab, of the Probation Service, said there were no real issues the service could address through supervision and recommended his punishment be a community order with unpaid work.

Magistrates followed the recommendation and imposed a 12-month community order with 60 hours unpaid work for each offence, to run concurrently.

Thomas must also pay £16 compensation and £85 costs.