A SHOPLIFTER who stole a trolley-load of items from a supermarket told a court: “I don’t know why I did it.”

Gary Thistlethwaite took food and clothes from Asda in worth £200 in an operation he described as “opportunistic”.

The 51-year-old pleaded guilty to the offence when he appeared at South Cumbria Magistrates’ Court in Barrow on Wednesday.

The court heard that Thistlethwaite, of Port Haverigg Village, went to the Barrow supermarket with his wife on May 13.

He was said to have told her to go to the toilet before leaving the store without paying for the items, which included food, cat food and clothes.

Thistlethwaite was spotted by a security guard leaving the store with the items and called the police, the court was told.

Prosecutor Pam Ward said: “On May 13 at about 1.10pm in the afternoon the defendant and his wife were in Asda.

“He showed his wife to the toilets.

“He then pushed the trolley to a vehicle parked in the car park.

“The security guard decided to follow his movements.”

The guard was said to have seen Thistlethwaite’s wife follow him to the car.

He then alerted the police.

Mrs Ward added: “The police tracked his vehicle and visited his home.

“In interview he told police ‘I don’t honestly know why I did it’ and said he was sorry and wished it had not happened.”

Representing himself, Thistlewhite again told magistrates that he was dumbfounded by his reasons for committing the offence.

He said: “I don’t why I did it.

“It was just opportunistic.

“I wouldn’t dream of doing it again.”

For the offence he received a fine of £275.

He was also told to pay a victim surcharge of £30 and £85 in court costs.