THE deputy manager of the Lidl supermarket in Devizes was caught stealing food, alcohol and other items from the store.

Adrian Bailey, who had only been the deputy manager for eight weeks, was spotted by a visiting Lidl manager filling up his car with groceries.

Bailey, of Cloford Close, Trowbridge, pleaded guilty to theft when he appeared at Devizes Magistrates Court on Tuesday.

Becky Abbott, prosecuting, said Bailey, 27, was caught in the act when an area manager waited outside the store at about 9.30pm on December 20.

Customers had left and Bailey was the only person left in the store.

Miss Abbott said the area manager saw Bailey get a shopping trolley and re-enter the store.

Half an hour later he came out with the trolley full of goods and loaded them into his vehicle.

The area manager approached him and said he wanted to perform a late stock check and look in his car.

Bailey was unhappy at this suggestion but could not produce a receipt.

The items were later scanned through the till and the final total amounted to £272.14.

Trevor Line, defending, said Bailey had worked in retail trade for seven years. He had since been sacked.

Magistrates fined him £200 and ordered him to pay £20 towards prosecution costs.