A 40-year-old man has been sentenced to community service after a string of shoplifting offences.

Stephen Gerrard Arrowsmith admitted five counts of theft and also had a previous community service order revoked by magistrates.

Prosecuting advocate Hazel Carroon told the court that Arrowsmith stole a bottle of champagne, worth £35, from Shoprite in Port Erin on November 2 last year.

He was seen putting the bottle in his jacket before leaving without paying and was later arrested.

On February 23, Spar in Union Mills reported a string of thefts committed by Arrowsmith. CCTV footage showed him enter the store on February 9 and put a £9 bottle of wine in the rear of his trousers. He paid for some other groceries but left without paying for the wine.

On February 11, footage showed him back in the shop, this time putting a £3 bottle of cider in his jacket before paying for other groceries, then leaving.

On February 22, Arrowsmith returned and this time took a bottle of wine worth £9.99, putting it in his jacket and leaving without paying.

He was back again on March 3, this time stealing more wine, worth £6, hiding it in his jacket before paying for milk, then leaving.

Arrowsmith attended a police interview on March 5 and said he had little recollection of the thefts due to alcohol and prescription medication dependency, for which he said he was seeking help.

The previous community service order, for 60 hours, was imposed in July 2019 for stealing headphones from WH Smith at the Sea Terminal.

Defence advocate James Peterson said that his client had been unable to complete that order due to an injury and other medical problems which he had provided doctor’s notes for. Mr Peterson said that Arrowsmith, who lives in Taubman Terrace, Douglas, was now able to do community service.

The advocate said: ’All the shoplifting offences were low value items. They took place during a period of significant difficulties with alcohol and prescription medication.

’Mr Arrowsmith was receiving assistance from the Drug and Alcohol Team (DAT) and mental health services.

’He has little recollection of the offences but it is likely the shoplifting was to feed his addiction to alcohol. He is no longer reliant on alcohol or drugs and appears to have turned a corner.’

Magistrates revoked the previous community service order and replaced it with one for 120 hours, which includes hours for all the thefts.

Arrowsmith was also ordered to pay £35 compensation to Shoprite and £27.99 to Spar, at a rate of £10 per week, deducted from benefits.