A serial offender told police "old habits die hard" after being caught stealing three joints of beef.

Brian Thorp entered Lidl, in Outer Circle Road, Lincoln, at approximately 3.30pm on November 9 and walked out of the store without paying £28.27 for the meat.

He was watched by a member of staff take one joint of beef and was discovered to have two more in his possession when he was stopped.

Thorp was arrested, admitted the offence during a police interview and pleaded guilty to theft yesterday at Lincoln Magistrates' Court.

Prosecutor Jim Clare told the court the 26-year-old had now committed 112 offences.

In mitigation, Sunnil Khanna said Thorp's benefit money of £160 every fortnight was being stretched to help his housemate, who was waiting for disability benefit payments to be paid.

Mr Khanna said this had left the pair short of food and "in desperation" his client stole the meat.

City magistrates heard Thorp had suffered various personal problems including a drug addiction, which he is currently successfully fighting to overcome.

Thorp, of Naam Grove, Lincoln, was given a six-month conditional discharge.