A MAN who stole shoes from a Chester store found they did not fit him and so threw them into a canal.

James Thomas Jones, 40, of Percy Street, Bootle, then went back to the same store – Deichmann Shoes on Foregate Street – to steal a larger pair which did fit him, Chester Magistrates Court heard on Friday, August 9.

CCTV officers located him and Jones was later arrested.

Jones pleaded guilty to the shoplifting offences and magistrates fined him.

Prosecuting, Alison Warburton said it was on the afternoon of July 24 when Jones went in to Deichmann Shoes and emerged with a carrier bag he did not have before which contained items.

It emerged a pair of size seven trainers had been taken.

Jones returned later that day and repeated the theft, this time taking a pair of size 10 trainers.

Local authority CCTV tracked Jones and he was arrested while wearing the brand new trainers on Eastgate Street.

In interview, Jones explained his trainers were worn and damaged and went to try the size seven trainers he had stolen by the canal.

When he found they were too small, he threw them in the canal and returned to the shoe store to find a bigger pair of trainers.

He found the new pair of trainers did fit so threw his original pair away.

He was noted as being remorseful in interview.

Compensation was sought as the shoes – collectively valued at £79.98 – were not able to be resold, as Jones had worn one pair and the other had been thrown in a canal.

Jones had 10 previous convictions for 13 offences, the last for a drink-driving offence in October 2018.

Defending, James Bagby said Jones was in town visiting a friend when his shoes split. He had made full admissions in interview and had not gone shoplifting since December 2017.

Magistrates fined Jones £40, ordered him to pay £79 compensation to Deichmann Shoes, plus £85 court costs and a £32 victim surcharge.