A SHOPLIFTER from who stole more than £75 of goods from Tesco has escaped a prison sentence.

Daniel Smith, of Alma Road, Bournemouth, deliberately did not pay for items he had scanned through a self-service till at the Express store in West Parley and then made off on his bike.

But the manager of the shop, in New Road, gave chase and 25-year-old Smith was later arrested by police, Bournemouth Crown Court heard.

He admitted to stealing the goods last December because he was unemployed and could not afford to pay, prosecutor Anita Gibson-Lee said.

Smith pleaded guilty to breach of conditional discharge and suspended sentence order for a previous conviction of burglary.

Rob Griffiths, mitigating, said Smith, who now works at The Cow pub in Parkstone, was sorry for missing unpaid work commitments.

“In the past short prison sentences have not worked,” Mr Griffiths said.

“He does have his act together at the moment by having a job. If he can keep that and stay out of trouble.”

Judge Peter Johnson extended Smith’s supervision order, breach of conditional discharge and sentencing for the theft until August.