A MAN who loaded up a trolley of food and tried to leave without paying had only recently been punished for a shoplifting offence.

Mark Hulse was stopped at the doors of Morrisons in Chester Road, Saltney on October 8.

He was handed a conditional discharge on January 26 after being convicted of another theft offence.

On that occasion he was caught in B&M Bargains trying to steal a Braun shaver.

Hulse, 39, of High Street, Saltney, admitted theft and being in breach of the conditional discharge.

Emma Simoes, defending, told North East Wales Magistrates Court that Hulse had a long history of drug addiction and had been “street homeless” for the last 10 years while he also suffered from a curvature of the spine.

“He is really trying to overcome his addictions and there is a huge change in his circumstances as he has been accepted for emergency accommodation,” said Ms Simoes.

Magistrates adjourned the case for a pre-sentence report until November 14 at the Mold court.