A SHOPLIFTER was caught with spirits concealed in his trousers, a court has heard.

Lucas Dezyderiusz Kucinski, of Newtown Road, Hereford, admitted taking the alcohol when he appeared before magistrates on October 30.

Prosecutor Nicola Ritchie told the court that 26-year-old Kucinski had entered Tesco in Hereford at 4.30pm on October 11.

He was spotted taking the security tag off a bottle of gin worth £16.50 before tucking it into his trouser waistband.

Kucinski was stopped by security staff after walking out of the store without paying. Police were called, and the bottle of gin was recovered.

George Cousins, mitigating, said Kucinski committed the offence after losing his job, but that he is due to start a new job soon.

Kucinski was fined £40. He must also pay £135 in costs and a £32 victim surcharge.