A JOBLESS labourer described his theft of £100 of booze from an Isle of Wight supermarket as "an act of stupidity", when he appeared before Island magistrates.

Robert Paul Williams, of Beauchamp Drive, Newport, admitted shoplifting alcohol worth £100 on January 22, when he appeared at the Isle of Wight Magistrates' Court.

Williams, who entered Sainsbury's in Newport at 7.45pm that day, had placed the stolen items in a basket and left the store without paying.

When confronted by staff, Williams gave them his name and refused to return the alcohol, said Lauren Stone, prosecuting.

The bench was told Williams had a record of 19 appearances in court for 41 offences, which included instances of shoplifting.

When questioned by the police, the 35-year-old claimed he could not remember the theft, nor giving his name to staff, said his solicitor, Nicholas Muir. 

Through Mr Muir, Williams, unemployed, apologised to the court for the offence, which he described as being "an act of stupidity".

Magistrates fined Williams £80 and ordered him to pay £100 compensation to Sainsbury's, with £85 costs and a £32 surcharge.