MAGISTRATES heard that a Shepton Mallet man had not learned his lesson when he was caught shoplifting again while already under a community order imposed for theft.

Kalup Matthew Smith went to two separate supermarkets on different days and was caught helping himself to hot food and alcohol.

His solicitor Greg Peters said that Smith had been going through a “particularly challenging time” when he committed the offences and now found himself back before the courts for breaching his community order, previously imposed for shoplifting offences.

The 23-year-old of Alfred Crescent pleaded guilty to stealing alcohol worth £19 from the Cp-op at Glastonbury on March 9 and the theft of hot food products valued at £15 belonging to Morrisons Daily at Shepton Mallet on May 13. he also admitted breaching his community order by failing to attend two appointments.

The court heard that on the second occasion Smith was told to leave Morrisons and then became abusive towards the staff. He then left and threw the hot food away.

Both matters were committed while he was subject to a community order imposed for previous shoplifting offences.

Mr Peters added that this was Smith’s first breach of his community order and was going through a tough time following the death of his grandmother along with mental health difficulties.

The magistrates revoked Smith’s community order and sentenced him to a new 12-month order with a 25-day rehabilitation activity requirement. They also fined him a total of £120 for the thefts and the breach and ordered him to pay compensation to the two shops.