A homeless shoplifter who stole four sausage rolls from Greggs offered to pay for them when police found him outside eating the pastries.

David Wells was persuaded by the officers to go back into the shop and pay for them but staff refused to take his cash and told him to leave the premises on Saddler Street.

Newton Aycliffe Magistrates’ Court heard how the hungry shoplifter was told he would face no further action from the police if he managed to stay out of trouble.

Michael Embleton, prosecuting, said Wells was caught shoplifting again on September 30 when he was caught stealing £43 worth of meat from the Co-op with an accomplice.

The 43-year-old was arrested this time and charged with both offences.

Greggs on Saddler Street, DurhamGreggs on Saddler Street, Durham (Image: Google)

Magistrates heard how the defendant has since been found a home to live in and they were urged to sentence him to a conditional discharge.

Wells, of Hawthorn Crescent, Shotton Colliery, County Durham, pleaded guilty to both charges of shoplifting.

His lawyer, Jaxon Taylor, urged the magistrates to give his client a chance to rebuild his life now that he has settled accommodation.

He said his client offered to pay for the sausage rolls but the shop staff declined and kicked him out.

Greggs sausage rollsGreggs sausage rolls

Dealing with the second offence, Mr Taylor said: “He says he didn’t need to get involved and shouldn’t have got involved.

“He didn’t need the money for drink or drugs, he just offered to help his friend – he does regret that now.

“He probably needs to cut a lot of these associations out of his life otherwise he will no doubt find himself getting into trouble.”

Mr Taylor said Wells understands that of he gets into any further trouble he risks losing the tenancy of his home and he realises just how lucky he is to have been given this chance.

See more court stories from The Northern Echo by clicking here 

Get more from The Northern Echo with a digital subscription. Get access to the latest offer for annual or monthly subscription. Click here for details.

Suzanne Chivers, chair of bench, said: “We have heard you are doing well on your community order, so we are going to deal with these offences by way of a conditional discharge for six months.

“If you get into no more trouble then you will hear no more about this.”

AS well as the conditional discharge, he was ordered to pay £21.60 compensation to the Co-op and make a contribution to court costs of £111.

She added: “If you continue to mix with people who get you into trouble you will lose your house – they only give you so many strikes and then you are out.”