A hapless thief who failed to show up for a court appearance because he had gone on holiday 11 miles away, has appeared in the dock again after carrying out two more shoplifting offences.

Phillip Yelding was due in court in July to face thieving charges after targeting supermarkets in his hometown of Sittingbourne.

But after receiving the date of his appearance, he realised he would be staying in a caravan at Allhallows Holiday Park on the Isle of Grain.

The 32-year-old thief had contacted Medway magistrates to ask for an adjournment so he could enjoy his break, but his request was denied because it was felt he could easily travel to the court in Chatham from the holiday destination.

However, he never appeared and a warrant for his arrest was issued, leading to him being picked up and hauled before the court on July 31, when magistrates heard he had stolen meat from supermarkets including Sainsbury’s, Lidl, and Iceland.

On each occasion, the Cavell Way resident was spotted taking the items by staff and the goods were recovered.

The court also heard Yelding, who admitted the crimes, was serving a community order for driving offences when he committed the thefts in March.

At the time, he was placed on a 12-month community order and told to complete 25 rehabilitation days, a six-month drug rehabilitation programme and pay compensation to each business for the value of the items he took because the meat could not be resold.

However, on September 20, he reappeared at the same court after being charged with two more counts of shoplifting which he’d carried out in June.

The bench heard he walked into the Wilko store in Sittingbourne on June 16 and took four cans of eggshell paint, valued at £46, then just a few days later visited the Sainsbury’s again, taking a bottle of Captain Morgan’s rum and a bottle of Smirnoff vodka, valued at £39.

Rajni Prashar, prosecuting, said: “He went into Wilko and went upstairs and selected four tins of paint and walked down the escalator and then ran out of the store. He was followed along the road and dropped one tin.

“Then the second incident happened, when four plainclothed officers saw a man run out of Sainsbury’s with two bottles with their tags on them. The officers ran after him and he dropped both bottles.”

Magistrates also heard Yelding – who admitted the June crimes – had not attended all of his probation appointments he had been given since his last court appearance.

But he had attended some and had yet to start his drug rehabilitation requirement because he had not been offered an appointment by course providers.

The bench was told Yelding had been clean from crack cocaine for at least four weeks, but would still like a bit more help with his addiction problems.

Magistrates decided to keep him on the 12-month community order he was on as he would soon make progress on it and get help with his drug issues.

He was ordered he pay compensation to both shops for the goods he took.