A SHOPLIFTER travelled from Scunthorpe to Cheshire Oaks to steal 10 T-shirts from a store.

Leo Gidimin, 30, of Ajax Court, pleaded guilty to stealing the Hugo Boss T-shirts from Cheshire Oaks on Sunday, April 25.

But Gidimin, appearing from custody at Chester Magistrates Court the following day, said he did not accept the value of the items stolen was as high as the £1,156 reported.

He said he accepted taking about £700 worth of T-shirts.

But District Judge Nicholas Sanders said: "There is no basis for your basis of plea. All the items were added up through the till."

Defending, Richard Sibeon said: "There may have been discounted items or 'three for two' offers, but those offers are not available for shoplifters."

Gidimin was handed a suspended prison sentence.

Prosecuting, Michael O'Kane said a security officer at the Hugo Boss store became aware of Gidimin, who went into the changing rooms carrying about 10 T-shirts.

He re-emerged about 15 minutes later, looking like he didn't have the T-shirts on him any more.

Cheshire Oaks security officers were alerted and, after Gidimin left the store without paying, he was stopped and the T-shirts were found tied to him with the assistance of tin foil that Gidimin had taken with him.

He had no previous convictions in this country.

Defending, Mr Sibeon said Gidimin was from Romania and had returned to the UK in the past two weeks to stay with his cousin, having previously been in the UK until last autumn when he lost his job.

His cousin was a painter and decorator and they had been working.

Gidimin had travelled to the Cheshire Oaks area for a quote on a painting and decorating job, and on the way back, intended to stop at Cheshire Oaks for a bite to eat, and to buy one T-shirt.

He said while there, he met a group of Romanians who said he could steal a number of T-shirts, and was provided with the tin foil by them.

There was no evidence of Gidimin being part of a group activity.

Mr Sibeon concluded: "He needs to learn a salutary lesson for this, or he will do it again."

DJ Sanders said Gidimin would get full credit for his guilty pleas to shoplifting and going equipped for theft.

Gidimin was sentenced to 12 weeks in jail, suspended for nine months. He was also handed an 18-week, 7pm-7am curfew at his cousin's address, and must pay a £128 victim surcharge and £85 court costs.