A man who stole seven bottles of vodka from a grocery store claimed he intended to pay for them but was stopped before reaching the checkout.

Staff at Marketplace in Church Street, Hamilton, noticed Joseph Moniz Lima place seven bottles of Absolut vodka worth $193 in a black backpack, a court heard. The incident took place at 4.45 p.m. on April 9. Prosecutor Maria Sofianos told Magistrates' Court the assistant manager noticed Lima placing the bottles in his backpack on the store's CCTV system. On his arrest, Lima, 44, of St. George's, told Police: "I never left the store."

He pleaded guilty to theft. The court heard he had previous convictions for receiving stolen goods, theft and dishonesty.

Lima told Magistrate Khamisi Tokunbo: "My intention was to pay for it but they never gave me a chance. I was heading to the cash register and that's when they stopped me. I showed the Police my ATM card."

Mr. Tokunbo said: "They were in your backpack, why is that? Was that a Marketplace bag? Put some sugar on that and you want me to swallow that? What were you going to do with seven bottles of vodka? You were having a party?"

Lima replied: "I guess so. Yes sir, I was going to have a party. I admit my guilt sir." Mr. Tokunbo fined him $500.