A WREXHAM man had been drinking to excess when he walked into a shop and left without paying for two crates of lager.

Rikki Lee Dulson, 29, of Pentre Gwyn, entered the Spar store in Gwersyllt on October 12, where he placed a crate of San Miguel beer under each arm before leaving the premises.

Justin Espie, prosecuting, told Mold Magistrates Court how Dulson made no attempt to pay for the Spanish lager from the First Avenue store.

Emma Simoes, defending, said that despite the fact her client was no stranger to the courts system, had not actually been convicted of a like offence since 2006.

Ms Simoes said: “It’s not really in his nature to commit acts like this one.

“It has to be said, he did it while in drink, which I appreciate is an aggravating feature.”

“His family had recently had received some bad news, with another family member had died leaving three young children.”

Ms Simoes said that news had been a catalyst to Dulson’s drinking and ultimately led to the theft.

However, she went to say that Dulson had recently acquired new employment as a hygiene maintenance operative and was just about to start training for that role.

Magistrates ordered Dulson to pay compensation of £26 and other costs totalling £106.