Published at 11:37, Wednesday, 24 June 2009

AN alcoholic who stole two bottles of rum from a Barrow supermarket has been sent to prison.

Faisal Ahmed, 43, was caught trying to take the items, with a total value of £16.38, from Aldi on Hindpool Road on June 8, Furness magistrates heard yesterday.

A member of staff, who was monitoring Ahmed because she believed he was acting suspiciously, watched him hide the bottles under his jacket.

Mr Peter Kelly, prosecuting, told the court that when Ahmed noticed he was being watched, he took one bottle out from his jacket and put it down.

Mr Kelly said: “When the member of staff asked about the second bottle, he claimed it was with the first and then carried on walking towards the exit.

“Mr Ahmed then realised that other members of staff had locked the doors and alerted police, he proceeded to pull the second bottle out of his jacket.”

Ahmed is currently serving a community order for a similar offence and has a history of shoplifting.

Brian Carruthers, from the National Probation Service, told the court that Ahmed was before the court for a breach of that order last week.

Ms Cath McAteer, defending, said: “Mr Ahmed is an alcoholic. He has made an appointment to talk about receiving treatment to help him deal with the problem.”

Ahmed, of Exmouth Street, Barrow, pleaded guilty to stealing two 70 centilitre bottles of rum.

Ms McAteer requested a pre-sentence report to be prepared for Ahmed, but this was refused.

Ahmed was sentenced to 60 days in prison.

District Judge Gerald Chalk said: “You have shown an inability to comply with community sentences.

“I have no alternative other than to give you a prison sentence and revoke the community order.”

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