A MAN who put a TV aerial down his trousers has admitted shoplifting from a Chester city centre store.

Stephen Ashton, 37, of Tarvin Road, appeared at Chester Magistrates Court on Tuesday, June 28, where he pleaded guilty to stealing items collectively worth £31.50 from Wilko on Foregate Street.

Prosecuting, Aaron Smith said it was at about 2.30pm on Monday when Ashton was seen with a woman in the store and had taken the TV aerial, to put it down the front of his trousers. He left the store without paying for the item.

Police were informed and were made aware of Ashton's presence by CCTV monitoring officers in the city centre.

Ashton was confronted and he admitted taking the TV aerial and a USB card without paying. The goods were retrieved and Ashton was arrested.

In police interview, he accepted having taken the items, saying he just wanted to watch TV in his bedroom.

The court heard he had 20 previous convictions for 33 offences, including 13 for theft-related offences.

In December 2021 he was made the subject of a community order for a shoplifting offence, and was re-sentenced earlier in June 2022.

Defending, the court heard the theft was of fairly low-level items and Ashton had complied with police.

He had been unwell recently and had missed appointments with the Jobcentre, meaning he was sanctioned and had to live on £114 for the month.

He had been trying to comply with a curfew requirement but difficulties at the shared accommodation he was at meant he did not wish to watch television in the communal area, and he wanted to watch TV from his bedroom.

The court heard he "did not think things through properly" by committing the theft.

Magistrates agreed a pre-sentence report should be prepared for Ashton, who was bailed on condition he does not enter the Wilko store in Foregate Street, Chester.

He will be sentenced on July 26.