A shoplifter fled pushing a child in a pushchair as staff cried "Stop thief," York magistrates heard.

Two members of the public immediately caught Michael John Lawson, 24, as he tried to make off with two sets of cutlery, said Martin Butterworth, prosecuting.

Magistrates heard Lawson had been desperate for money because he had been left holding the baby when police arrested his ex-partner on a warrant shortly before.

Lawson, of Kingsway North, Clifton, pleaded guilty to theft on Friday. He was ordered to do 40 hours' community punishment and pay £120 court costs.

Mr Butterworth said staff at Price Pounder in York saw Lawson placing items from display in a carrier bag and challenged him.

The thief denied that he was doing anything wrong and left the store. "He started running away pushing the pushchair in front of him," said Mr Butterworth. "The member of staff shouted 'Stop thief'. Two members of the public detained Lawson nearby."

Police found two boxes of cutlery worth £20 each on him. He told them he expected to sell each one for £10.

For Lawson, Mark Thompson said last year had been a "horrendous" one for him, during which he had been regularly before the courts for stealing and other matters as he was then a heroin addict. In November he was jailed for various offences.

After his release in January, he had conquered his heroin habit and was going straight, but had had problems getting benefit and arranging accommodation.

He was staying with his ex-partner while he sorted himself out.

On May 18, the pair had been in York centre with his child when police arrested her. He had no money to buy nappies or food and had no idea when she would be released. So he made the "foolish" decision to steal the cutlery.

Updated: 14:48 Thursday, May 24, 2001