Standing by while watching his friend steal meat worth £40 from Waitrose has cost an Ipswich man £255.

On the day of his trial at South East Magistrates’ Court Alistair Bridges, of Rushmere Road, pleaded guilty to theft.

The 47-year-old returned the following day for sentencing.

Prosecutor Colette Harper told the court the theft occurred at 11.45am on February 2.

Bridges and another man were seen to enter Waitrose in Princes Street, Ipswich.

They then walked to the fresh meat display and lingered around it for a few minutes.

The pair disappeared from the view of the store’s security camera before returning to the meat aisle.

The other man was seen to hold open a carrier bag and packs of meat were put inside.

The pair were seen together on CCTV while this was going on.

Magistrates heard Bridges had convictions for 43 previous offences, six of which were for theft, and the last being in November last year.

Shelley Drew, representing Bridges, said it was not her client who picked up the meat and put it in the carrier bag.

Mrs Drew said it was his friend and that Bridges was simply with the other man while he stole the meat.

Bridges’ friend had previously pleaded guilty to stealing the items and putting them in the bag.

He had been jailed for this and other matters.

Mrs Drew added Bridges’ guilty plea was on the basis that he was present when the theft occurred, but he did not take the items or benefit from them being stolen.

Bridges was given a six-month conditional discharge.

However, he was ordered to pay £200 towards prosecutions costs, £40 compensation to Waitrose and £15 to the victims’ fund.