A thief has been fined £300 after stealing five bottles of cider from a local supermarket.

Stephen John Simpson, aged 54, of Broadway, Douglas, was detained by security staff at Shoprite on Chester Street on June 17.

He had entered the store at 1.30pm and made his way to the alcohol aisle - once there he removed the two-litre bottles from the shelf and hid them in his rucksack.

At Douglas Courthouse on Thursday Simpson admitted the theft. The cider was valued at £13.65.

Simpson’s advocate, Kate Alexander, told the court: ’There’s clearly some very personal matters in play here. He’s extremely embarrassed - he’s extremely ashamed about what’s occurred.’

Ordering Simpson to pay court costs of £50 chair of the magistrates Anita Ardern told him: ’The bench is sympathetic in light of the issues you have with alcohol.’

Simpson was also banned from buying or being sold alcohol for 12 months.