A THIEF swiped a Valentine's Day card and hundreds of pounds of alcohol from two supermarkets, a court heard.

Wesley McGrogan appeared at South Cumbria Magistrates’ Court yesterday where he faced two charges of theft from two separate Co-op stores in Barrow and Dalton.

Prosecution solicitor Diane Jackson told the court that on February 5 the 36-year-old stole several bottles of spirits, to the value of £158.50 and then went to the Dalton Co-op store where he stole bottles of alcohol, as well as a bag of potatoes and a Valentine's card, to the value of £215.

At the Barrow store he was challenged by a member of staff but was not stopped, she said.

“The police later went to his address at the time and found him hiding upstairs in a cupboard," said Miss Jackson.

“Only the bottle of whiskey was drunk so that is the only thing that needs compensation.

“He also has a previous conviction for a theft in November 2019.”

Defence lawyer Karen Templeton explained her client was going through a tough time and had bereavement issues at the time'.

She said: “He went out to get alcohol, piled it into the basket and just walked out.

“This was an unsophisticated.

"His ‘head popped’ that day. He has explained that things are now looking up. He has been clean for a while and the weather is getting better so there is improved chance of work.”

McGrogan, of no fixed abode, must pay £80 fines for both charges of theft plus court costs which totalled up to £297.

"As soon as I get work I will pay it off as soon as I can," he told magistrates.