A thief is facing a £626 court bill after stealing alcohol and tobacco totalling £21.39 from three shops.

Clive Dunn, of Woodbridge Road, Ipswich, told the town’s magistrates he had relationship problems at the time and was not thinking straight

He admitted: “What I have done is absolutely ridiculous. I was going through a bad time. I just wasn’t thinking about what I was doing. It’s ridiculous.”

The 29-year-old had previously pleaded guilty to three counts of theft.

Prosecutor Lesla Small told the court Dunn went into a Co-op store in Woodbridge Road at 7.50am on March 2 and asked for amber leaf tobacco. The item was scanned through the till, but Dunn then selected two bottles of Bulmer cider.

When he returned to the till with them he was told it was too early in the morning for alcohol to be purchased.

Magistrates were told Dunn grabbed the tobacco and said: “Sorry about this. I’m having a bad day.”

He then walked out with the tobacco and alcohol, but was stopped outside the shop.

On the same day at 9.30am Dunn went to G&M Stores in Cauldwell Hall Road, Ipswich, and picked up four cans of beer.

He did not have any money and asked for credit, but was told the shop did not give credit and in any case it was too early for alcohol to be sold.

The court heard Dunn got angry and picked up a bottle of Caribbean Twist worth £2.79 before walking out without paying, although he did say he would pay the following week.

Around five hours later he went to McColls in Tower Ramparts and took two bottles of Smirnoff Ice valued at £9.30.

Ms Small said security staff stopped him near the rear of Debenhams.

Magistrates heard Dunn had previous convictions for theft and dishonesty.

Dunn was fined £150 for each of the three thefts and told to pay £85 prosecution costs as well as £20 to the victim’s fund.

He was also ordered to pay £21.39 in compensation.

In addition he was fined a further £50 for breaching a previous conditional discharge given to him on November 4, which he admitted.