A HOMELESS man who stole food from Selby shops has been fined and told he will not get another chance.

Nathan Frank Archer, 32, pleaded guilty to two counts of theft when he appeared before magistrates on Thursday.

Jane Chadwick, prosecuting, told the court a member of staff at Sainsbury’s saw Archer, now of The Gables, in Holmes Lane, Selby, taking five gammon joints from the shelves and hiding them in his bag at about 1.30pm on January 28.

He was stopped in the foyer of the store by security officers, then arrested by police, but the store claimed the meat, worth £59.70, was not in a resaleable condition.

On February 17, while on bail for that offence, Archer was caught on CCTV taking blocks of cheese and a leg of lamb worth a total of £26 from the Co-op store in Flaxley Road. A police officer reviewing the footage identified Archer, and he was arrested again.

Chris McGrogan, for Archer, told the court his client had been driven to carry out the thefts after his accommodation was sold by its owner. The court heard he had to leave, and had resorted to sleeping in sheds or on benches. A mix-up with his benefits then meant Archer was without money or a place to live, and he had stolen the items either to eat, or sell.

Mr McGrogan said: “He felt that he had no option, that he was pushed into committing these offences. He knows that he has done wrong, and accepts he stands to be punished.”

The court heard that following a previous conviction for theft, Archer had been on a thinking skills course with the probation service, but failed to complete it.

Magistrates issued Archer with a 12-month community order with supervision, and ordered him to retake the course.

Chairman of the bench Ruth Stanley told Archer: “You must finish it this time. You will not get another chance.”

Archer was also fined £60, ordered to pay costs of £100, and compensation to each of the stores for the values of the stolen goods.