A thief who stole an expensive shaver from the Boots store in Dartford did so to fund a drug habit, a court heard.

Mark Osborne, 27, walked into the store in the High Street and picked up a £284 men’s electrical razor removed the security tag and walked out with it.

Osborne, of no fixed address, was identified by police taking the razor via CCTV footage and was arrested. He admitted he must have stolen the item because he recognised himself on the footage, but told officers he could not really recall the incident.

However, he did later admit he stole it to feed his and his partner’s drug habit.

Osborne appeared before magistrates in Medway where he pleaded guilty to one count of shoplifting and the bench was told he also had previous convictions.

Magistrates heard Osborne had now ended the relationship and had not touched Class A drugs since.

Osborne was given an 18 month conditional discharge and ordered to pay £85 costs.