A thief with expensive taste has been put on probation after stealing a £625 coat from a Douglas store.

Jake Mortimer, of Glebe Mooar, Churchtown, near Ramsey, admitted the theft from Flannels in the Strand Shopping Centre on September 30.

Magistrates also ordered the 19-year-old to pay £625 compensation to the shop.

Prosecutor Roger Kane told the court how Mortimer was seen by staff in Flannels putting the jacket under his own coat before leaving.

He was confronted by staff but made off before being arrested later.

In a police interview Mortimer admitted taking the jacket saying he had gone into the shop with the intent to steal.

The teenager said he had been drinking and had taken valium the night before.

Mortimer told police he no longer had the jacket as a member of his family had sold it on.

The court heard that, in March 2018, Mortimer was convicted of stealing an Armani jumper. Armani fleece and Armani trousers from the same store. That offence took place in September 2017.

He was initially sentenced to community service for that offence but that was revoked and replaced with a £300 fine after he failed to attend work groups and probation appointments.

Defence advocate Aalish Hannan said: ’Mr Mortimer is very ashamed and embarrassed to find himself before the court again. One witness says he smelt strongly of alcohol and his pupils were dilated which confirms his account.’

Ms Hannan said that Mortimer had said that he would not have committed the offence were it not for him being intoxicated.

’He says he no longer drinks alcohol,’ said the advocate.

A probation report said that Mortimer had been suffering from anxiety and depression for some time which he felt was related to his previous use of cannabis.

The report also said that the teenager said he no longer used the drug and had stopped associating with people who were a bad influence.

Magistrates’ chair David Christian told Mortimer while passing sentence: ’The fact you had a similar offence in 2017 says you seem to have very expensive taste. Learn from this. Don’t get itchy fingers.’

Mortimer will pay the £625 compensation at a rate of £10 per week with the probation order lasting 12 months.