A FORMER construction firm boss was caught with pliers, screwdrivers, and a foil-lined bag after stealing spirits and headphones from a Hereford supermarket.

Mandeep Sahota admitted one count of theft from a shop and one count of going equipped for going equipped for theft when he appeared before magistrates in Hereford in March.

Hereford Times:

Staff at Hereford's Asda supermarket were informed by a customer that Sahota had been seen putting items in his bag at 2.45pm on February 18, prosecutor Eleanor Peart said.

He had then gone to the till and paid for some items, but not the ones in his bag, the court heard.

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The alarm sounded as he tried to leave the shop, and his bag was searched, revealing that he had concealed two bottles of vodka, four bottles of whisky, and two sets of headphones worth a total of £210.

Sahota, who police said appeared to be intoxicated, said it was the first time he had done this, but his record revealed that he has previous convictions for theft in 2020, 2017, and 2012, and a conviction for possessing cocaine from February this year, Miss Peart said.

He had also gone equipped, carrying a tin-foil lined bag, pliers, and two screwdrivers.

Gurdeep Gill, for Sahota, said that the 40-year-old had been in Hereford to visit a friend.

"They had been drinking and he told police he had lost his head," Mr Gill said.

"It was clear he was intoxicated and this was not a matter where he was taking alcohol for resale."

Hereford Times:

Mr Gill said that Sahota does have previous convictions, but they had been some time apart."

"They do not represent a pattern of offending. This was a one-off example of foolishness under the influence of alcohol."

The court heard Sahota has not been in work since January last year, when his construction business ran into financial difficulties.

A probation report revealed that Sahota is using £40 worth of crack cocaine and heroin a day.

Sahota, of Lakeside Road, West Bromwich, was handed a 12-month community order and a nine-month drug rehabilitation requirement. He was also ordered to pay prosecution costs of £100 and a £114 victim surcharge.