A MAN from Ellesmere Port stole a TV from the town's Asda store to feed his heroin habit.

Ryan Jebb, 42, of Faraday Road, Whitby, admitted the shoplifting offence when he appeared at Chester Magistrates Court on Monday, January 7.

Prosecuting, Rob Youds said the alarms went off when Jebb left the store on December 15 with the £229 TV.

Police attended his address and he said he had sold the TV and he was arrested.

He admitted he needed the money to fund his drug habit and apologised for his actions at the end of the police interview.

He had been out of trouble since 2001.

Jebb, defending, said he had a bone disease in his leg and the heroin was to deal with the pain.

Magistrates handed Jebb a 12-month conditional discharge and ordered him to pay £229 compensation to Asda. He was fined an additional £30 for breach of bail as his case was originally due to be held the previous Friday.