AN UNEMPLOYED Ipswich man is more than £150 worse off today after admitting shoplifting and trashing a bike after the owner ran into him.Carl McLaughlin, of Whitehouse Road, Ipswich, admitted stealing two Lord of the Rings DVD's from the Co-op in Sheldrake Drive, Ipswich.

AN UNEMPLOYED Ipswich man is more than £150 worse off today after admitting shoplifting and trashing a bike after the owner ran into him.

Carl McLaughlin, of Whitehouse Road, Ipswich, admitted stealing two Lord of the Rings DVD's from the Co-op in Sheldrake Drive, Ipswich.

He also pleaded guilty to criminally damaging a bicycle on the Whitton estate in Ipswich at South East Suffolk Magistrates' Court.

The 20-year-old was ordered to pay compensation of £39.98 to the Co-op and £40 to the owner of the damaged bike, and £75 in costs.

The court heard that McLaughlin was seen taking the DVDs by the store manager who later identified him.

The defendant admitted carrying out the theft when he was on the Chantry estate visiting a friend.

Although he had the money on him to buy the films he made a snap decision to steal them, and later sold them for much less than they were worth.

McLaughlin also admitted causing criminal damage to a bicycle in Shakespeare Road on February 28.

The prosecution told how he jumped repeatedly on one of the wheels, damaging the spokes.

In his defence Nikki Miller said McLaughlin lost his temper after the bike's owner ran into him.

She said the defendant apologised and offered to replace the damaged wheel with one from his own bike.

McLaughlin said he regretted his actions and wasting the court's time.