A PROLIFIC shoplifter with more than 200 offences to his name has been fined after admitting to a theft from a supermarket.

Ralph Alan Jones, 53, of Maes Cibyn, Caergwrle, committed the latest of his offences on September 16 this year, when he several items of food from Lidl in Wrexham.

Mold Magistrates Court heard how Jones had been stopped while trying to leave the store with two joints of meat and two blocks of cheese, to the value of £26. Although the items were recovered and Jones had admitted to the theft, the offence represented a breach of a previous conditional discharge.

Emma Simoes, defending, admitted that Jones was no stranger to the court, but added how the frequency of his appearances had lowered in recent years and despite his long standing issues with alcohol was now taking steps to improve his life.

Ms Simoes added how Jones had cut down from drinking five bottles of sherry a day to just 2/3 cans of beer and was now working 16 hours a week in a chip shop in Wrexham, which also gave him the means to fund a gym membership, which he was using regularly.

She said: “Mr Jones is making genuine attempts to improve his life.”

Jones was fined £80 and must pay prosecution costs of £85 and a surcharge of £32.