A penniless thief who filled up his bag with joints of meat, chucked it over his shoulder and left a shop without paying told police he did so to survive.

James Cosgrave was arrested just seven minutes after leaving the Co-op store in Castle Hill, Ebbsfleet.

He handed over the stolen items to police, telling them he had “stole to eat” as he had no money.

The 46-year-old had taken the goods which cost £29.25 and was charged with shoplifting.

Cosgrave of Orchard Road, Swanscombe, admitted the offence when he appeared before magistrates in Medway on October 25.

The court heard he stole the items on September 21 and that Cosgrave had only been convicted of another shoplifting offence in July this year.

Rajni Prashar, prosecuting, said: “He walked past the tills without paying and was arrested seven minutes later and handed the bag over to police with the meat in it.

“He made omissions in interview and said he had no money to pay.”

Defending himself, Cosgrave told the court he was sorry for his actions.

He said: “I have been (up until July) two-and-a-half years absent from court. I took the meat to eat, I stole it to eat it. I feel guilty.”

Magistrates heard Cosgrave had now taken steps to put his life in order and was receiving benefits.

The bench decided to place him on a 12-month conditional discharge and ordered he pay £29.25 compensation to the Co-op as well as a victim surcharge of £26 and £85 court costs.

Various Co-op stores have been targeted in Ebbsfleet and Dartford in similar shoplifting incidents in recent months.

Two men were arrested and later admitted in court theft offences after entering the same Co-op branch in Castle Hill.