A man from Lincoln has been hauled before a court for stealing a stash of meat and cheese.

William Cooke, 21, of Laurel Close, Lincoln, was caught snatching about £72 of goods from a Tesco store in Lincoln.

Lincoln Magistrates' Court heard Cooke carried out the shoplifting spree at 7.04am on November 29.

District Judge Richard Blake told the court it was very likely Cooke had been swiping the goods to find cash for his drugs habit.

But Cooke denied this – and said he had simply been hungry.

Paul Wood, prosecuting, told the court: "He was subject to a curfew order as part of a sentence from the last offence.

"He left home at 6.25am in breach of his curfew and stole the goods.

"The food was recovered from a holdall when he was stopped by police."

Cooke admitted one charge of theft.

Sunnil Khanna, in mitigation, said: "This was down solely to a lack of funds.

"He could have spoken to his mother, but did not want to."

Cooke was given a 12-week jail sentence, suspended for one year.

He was also given a 12-week curfew from 8pm to 7am every day.