A man who admitted the theft of food from a church will be sentenced later this month.

Magistrates’ Court heard that a janitor at the Southampton Seventh-day Adventist Church found a window shattered and investigated.

He and church staff reviewed CCTV footage of the night before, which showed Mikhail Butterfield, 31, leaving the church with food, later valued at $25.

Police later visited the church for a statement and church staff, who recognised Butterfield from the footage, spotted him nearby and pointed him out to police.

Officers arrested Butterfield, who later admitted to the theft.

The incident happened overnight on September 30 and October 1.

Butterfield, from Pembroke, pleaded guilty yesterday to burglary and a breach of the 12.30am to 5.30am curfew.

He told the court that he suffered from drug problems and did not have many money to buy food at the time.

Butterfield added: “I just want to apologise for what I did.

“It’s not like me to do that. It’s not my character.”

Senior magistrate Juan Wolffe remanded Butterfield in custody and adjourned the case until October 22.

He also ordered a social inquiry report and a drug assessment on the defendant.

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