A THIEF who stole hundreds of pounds of alcohol from a city supermarket has been spared jail.

A judge at Oxford Magistrates' Court called David Smith 'an idiot' for the string of shoplifting offences.

The 41-year-old of Templar Road, Cutteslowe, appeared at court yesterday facing 11 counts of theft.

He admitted all the charges at that hearing.

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Prosecutors said that the thefts all took place at the Sainsbury's store, Westgate Shopping Centre, Oxford between April 29 and May 9 this year.

During those thefts he stole hundreds of pounds of alcohol, including Vodka and champagne.

He also made off with barbecue equipment in one theft.

The total value of the goods that were taken was more than £600.

In mitigation his defence team said that Smith had recently lost his job and suffered a breakdown in relations with the mother of his children.

Sentencing, District Judge Malcolm Dodds said: "It is completely disgraceful that here we have shop workers putting their lives on the line to give us food while idiots like Mr Smith [steal]."

Smith was jailed for 60 days, suspended for 12 months, was banned from entering the Westgate, and must pay back £663.