A WOULD-BE thief was rumbled when the steaks he was trying to steal fell out of his coat.

James Gibson was spotted by the manager of the Lidl store in Blackpole, Worcester after grabbing four steaks and putting them in his jacket.

While trying to leave the store, he was challenged by the manager.

The 42 year-old at first tried to deny stealing the meat, but had to own up when the manager asked what the bulge was in his top.

At this point, the four stolen steaks fell out onto the floor.

At a hearing before magistrates in Worcester on March 17, Gibson, of Barbourne, admitted the thefts, worth £29.35.

Prosecutor Sumreen Afsar told the court: "The defendant was seen walking through Lidl in Blackpole Road.

"He was detained in the store office until the police arrived, at which point he was voluntarily interviewed.

"During that interview he accepted he was seen taking the steaks."

The court heard how Gibson had been released from prison in the summer of 2021, with the theft taking place shortly after in October of that year.

He had previously struggled with addictions to class A drugs and alcohol throughout his life but had tried to clean up after his release.

Barry Newton, representing Gibson, told the court: "He is the first to accept his previous record is not enviable, his last conviction was back in 2018 and he was released last year.

"This offence did not take place while he was on licence or supervision.

"He is on a low-prescription of methadone and, having known him for a number of years, he has been on a much higher dose than that."

The court heard Gibson had not been stealing to fund a drug habit and had instead stolen them to sell quickly as he was short of money.

In his police interview, he told officers: "I was trying to make an extra £5 or £10".

Magistrates handed Gibson a 12-month conditional discharge along with costs of £60 and a £22 victim surcharge.

This was consolidated with his existing account of £1,660 from previous fines.