A BUNGLING thief thought he had one up on police when he admitted stealing thousands of pounds of designer goods.

Peter Ladlow thought the police tape recorder was switched off when he admitted pinching the £18,000 designer bag, which had been reduced to £9,450 in a sale.

Oxford Crown Court heard 51-year-old Ladlow gave a ‘no comment’ interview to police after being arrested for the theft at Christian Dior in Bicester Village on December 11.

Joanna Durber, prosecuting, said when he believed recording equipment was switched off, he leaned over to officers and told them he did it.

His friend Robert Mercati, who had been present at the first theft, then stole two cashmere coats valued at £6,000 from Alfred Dunhill on January 8.

Both men admitted one count of shoplifting and were sentenced at Oxford Crown Court on Friday.

Simon Hancock, defending, said Ladlow had alcohol problems but had now been sober for four months.

Rio Pahlavanpour, defending, said Mercati lived on benefits and cared for his wheelchair-bound wife.

Mercati, of Rugby Street, London, and Ladlow, of Queen’s Court Gardens, London, were both given a 12-month jail term suspended for two years and ordered to do 250 hours’ unpaid work and pay £150 costs.

Ladlow was also given 12 months’ supervision and told to pay £3,000 compensation.