A MAN who was carrying a knife when he was arrested for shoplifting has been fined.

Miller Huq admitted theft and possessing an offensive weapon when he appeared at Worcester Magistrates Court on Thursday.

Leslie Ashton, prosecuting, said the 40-year-old walked into the Aldi, in Swan Lane, on January 25 and selected two bottles of whiskey, which he then attempted to hide in a bag he was carrying.

“He left without making any attempt to pay,” Ms Ashton said.

“Staff watched him and after a short chase, he was stopped. Police were called, he was arrested.

“He was searched and during the course of the search, they found a car key on the chain of his house keys.”

Ms Ashton explained the key was hidden in black casing and after officers unfolded it, it revealed a key that had been sharpened into a knife point.

Ms Ashton said in a police interview Huq, of Flat 5, Nailers Row, Castle Street, Evesham, was quite vague why he had the knife, at one point saying he had found it and didn't realise it was a sharp.

Barry Newton, defending said Huq had found the key a couple of days before and not adapted it to make it sharp, arguing he was at the lower end of culpability.

Mr Newton said Huq had fully co-operated with police, and asked for him to be given credit for his early guilty plea.

He added the whiskey was recovered in a resellable state by Aldi staff.

Magistrates gave Huq a £40 fine for the theft, and £120 for possession of the knife. He was ordered to pay costs of £150, and a victim surcharge of £30 - a total of £340.

They also ordered the destruction of the knife.