A PERSONAL shopper must abide by an eight-week curfew after stealing from his employer.

Lewis Minter, of Sudbourne Road, Felixstowe, admitted theft from Tesco at Martlesham, when he appeared before Ipswich magistrates.

The teenager stole computer games and two bottles of vodka, valued at £458, between February 11 and February 22.

Prosecutor Lesla Small said Minter’s downfall came after a broken casing of an X Box game was found in the men’s changing rooms at the store.

The manager had noticed the number of computer games being stolen was quite high.

He looked at the store’s CCTV and began an investigation.

The manager noted Minter had been on duty on previous occasions when games had gone missing.

The court was told Minter was seen to pick up an X Box game and a bottle of alcohol, and put them in a trolley.

Ms Small said it would have been part of the 18-year-old’s job to get lots of items customers wanted and take them out to the back of the shop for them to be packed up and despatched.

However, Minter and another member of staff were stopped when they left the store.

Minter was asked to empty his bag and items valued at £178 were found inside. These included two computer games and two bottles of vodka.

Minter admitted he had been taking items from Tesco since the early part of January. He had started with small things such as an energy drink.

The court heard he was selling the computer games he stole because he was homeless and ‘sofa surfing’ at friends’ homes.

Minter said the alcohol he took was for his own use.

Magistrates were told Minter was given a caution for shoplifting in August last year.

He was sentenced to a community order, with an eight-week curfew between 7pm to 7am when he must remain at the place he is staying in Sudbourne Road, Felixstowe.

A supervision requirement is also part of the order, along with participation in a thinking skills programme.

Minter must also pay Tesco £280 compensation.