A 57-year-old man has been put on probation for 12 months for two shoplifting offences.

Michael Alan Dransfield admitted two counts of theft after stealing meat from the Co-op and Shoprite.

He was also banned by High Bailiff Jayne Hughes from buying or being sold alcohol for one year.

Prosecuting advocate Rachael Braidwood told the court that Dransfield went to the Manx Co-op in Christian Street in Ramsey on May 14 at 2.30pm and was seen taking meat cuts and a jar of coffee before leaving without paying.

Dransfield was then seen at 6.05pm in Little Shoprite at St Paul’s Square where he took more meat cuts from a freezer and left without paying.

Police went to his home address and a search found the majority of the stolen food in his freezer.

When interviewed Dransfield told police he was struggling with alcohol consumption. He said he had the means to pay for the items but offended when intoxicated.

The total value of the items stolen from the Co-op was £62.39 while £20.85 worth of goods was taken from Shoprite.

Defence advocate David Clegg said that his client had been sent to a rehabilitation facility in Northern Ireland previously, funded by a Christian organisation.

Mr Clegg said that his client, who lives on Mooragh Promenade, Ramsey, went to drop-in ministries but had been alone during lockdown and old demons had returned.

’He is not someone who is shoplifting because they have no money or to sell the goods,’ said the advocate.

’He has had mental health difficulties as a result of being isolated.’

A probation report said that Dransfield had been in the army for nine years where he had started drinking.

Dransfield told probation that he would go on ’benders’ then be OK for months.

The report said that a probation order would help to address difficulties with alcohol.

Mrs Hughes also ordered Dransfield to pay £125 prosecution costs as well as compensation for the value of the goods taken to the Co-op and Shoprite.

He will pay all amounts at a rate of £10 per week deducted from benefits.