A social inquiry report was ordered on a man yesterday after he admitted two shoplifting charges.

Sherman Armstrong, 55, pleaded guilty to the theft of $268 worth of food and an attempt to steal $58 worth of clothing from supermarket chain MarketPlace.

Magistrates’ Court heard that a security guard stopped Armstrong in MarketPlace on Church Street, Hamilton, on suspicion of theft on February 22.

He was found to have $268.31 worth of seafood and meat in his bag and was arrested by police.

Maria Sofianos, for the prosecution, said that Armstrong was also arrested after an attempted theft on October 20 last year.

The court heard that assistant managers at the Shelly Bay Market Place saw Armstrong put $58.50 worth of clothing into a backpack and attempt to leave without paying.

When they confronted Armstrong at the door he removed the items from his bag but left before police were called. Officers arrested Armstrong, of Hamilton Parish, a few weeks later.

Magistrate Tyrone Chin also ordered a drug assessment for Armstrong and ordered him to attend drug treatment court. Armstrong was remanded in custody for sentence on October 3.

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