A MAN caught swigging on lager he had stolen moments earlier from Asda with a friend proceeded to then pinch a sandwich and bottle of milk despite knowing security staff were hot on their heels.

Steven Cummings, 49, and Kris Davidson, 26, made off with a crate of larger each worth £13 from the supermarket at the West Swindon District Centre and started drinking it outside, Swindon Magistrates’ Court was told on Wednesday.

Security staff tried to detain the pair and after they were brought back inside to be questioned, and while CCTV was being reviewed, Corfe Road resident Cummings went into Martins Newsagent and stole a sandwich and four pint bottle of milk worth £3.75.

The duo’s defence solicitor Gordon Hotson said they were both drunk at the time of the offences on Thursday, October 27.

Speaking about Cummings, Mr Hotson said: “He is a 49 and has a record going back to 1979 when he would have been 12, quite a lengthy record. It halted in 2009 and unfortunately restarted in 2013.

“Mr Cummings has suffered a catastrophic head injury in recent years and was very badly assaulted and left him with a brain injury from which he hasn’t recovered and there is still bleeding on his brain. He suffers the consequences of that injury on a daily basis.

“He knows he needs to sort out his act – enough is enough. Alcohol is getting him into trouble.”

Mr Hotson added of Davidson, who is a father and lives in Tintagel Close, Toothill, that he rarely drinks but when he does, he uses it as a mechanism to calm his anxiety disorder or for social occasions.

Both have previous convictions for being drunk and disorderly and theft.

Magistrates fined Davidson £98, which includes £13 compensation to Asda, and Cummings £101.75, which also includes compensation to the two stores.