A 28-year-old pickpocket detained by security staff at a Sainsbury superstore after stealing a purse from a woman in her 80s will be sentenced at crown court.

Romanian-national Gabriel Dragut of Mersea Road, Colchester was one of two men who were seen on CCTV in the store’s car park at Warren Heath in Felixstowe Road, near Ipswich, asking the elderly woman for directions.

While she was distracted her purse was stolen from her handbag.

Police were alerted at around 11am on Tuesday last week and although a security officer detained Dragut, the second male managed to get away.

Dragut was taken to Martlesham police investigation centre where he was questioned by officers and charged with theft before being remanded in custody.

He pleaded guilty to theft when he appeared at South East Suffolk Magistrates’ Court and was sent to Ipswich Crown Court.

A date has yet to be set for his sentencing.