A THIEF stole the tools of a man who was working at Hawarden Industrial Park.

David Haughton, 53, was seen acting suspiciously nearby.

He took the power tools to the value of £320 from a vehicle, put them into his own and drove off.

Houghton, of Capenhurst Lane at Whitby, Ellesmere Port, admitted theft on November 10 and failed to attend court on February 13.

He was placed on a three month tagged curfew to remain indoors between 7pm and 7am.

The defendant was ordered to pay £670 costs and £320 compensation to the owner, Michael Richards.

He was also fined £50 for failing to answer his bail.

North East Wales Magistrates Court was told Haughton was working as a painting contractor at the Airbus factory, was sent out to buy paint, saw the tools and fell to temptation.

The Mold court heard he had previous convictions for 70 offences, had been clean of drugs for three years, was on a methadone prescription and his partner, a substance misuse worker, had been very supportive in his recovery.

But solicitor Stephen Edwards, defending, said his client had been warned that the relationship was in jeopardy if he continued to offend.