A Warwick man with a “penchant for Scotch” admitted stealing several bottles of the liquor from a grocery store.

Keivon Scott, 30, from Spice Hill Road, pleaded guilty to stealing a total of $160.85 worth of alcohol, telling the court that he intended to sell the liquor on the streets because he was out of work.

The court heard that in the afternoon of January 20 staff at the Warwick branch of Lindo’s noticed a shopping basket containing red wine in a stairwell off limits to customers.

Looking through CCTV footage of the day, they noticed Scott enter the store holding a satchel, pick up a shopping basket and walk directly to the liquor department. He put red wine in the basket, along with bottles of Johnny Walker Black Label, Johnny Walker Red Label, Dewar’s and Crown Royal.

He was then seen to walk to the restricted stairwell. When he emerged he was still holding the satchel but not the shopping basket.

Scott then left the store without paying for anything and walked west down Middle Road.

Police were contacted and Scott arrested after being identified due to the video footage. While he declined to comment when interviewed by police, he admitted the offence yesterday during an appearance in Magistrates’ Court.

Scott apologised for the incident, telling the court he only committed the offence because he had been out of work and needed the money.

“I’m more than willing to pay back Lindo’s, and if they are willing to give me part time work, I will prove that I’m a good worker,” he said.

However, Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner noted a series of previous convictions for offences including theft and robbery.

“How do you expect someone to hire you if you keep breaking into people’s houses and stealing?” Mr Warner asked. “That’s the reason for the circular situation you are in.

“If the problem is you cannot get a job because of your past record, and you are actually still pursuing a job, do you do the same thing that caused you to be in the same situation?”

He also noted the specific bottles stolen, saying: “This man has got a penchant for Scotch. You didn’t just go there to steal because you went there and selected these Scotches. This was deliberate.”

Mr Warner ordered both a social inquiry report and a drug assessment, releasing Scott on $2,000 bail with a like surety, under the condition that he stay away from all Lindo’s stores. He is set to return to Magistrates’ Court to be sentenced in March.