A WELSHPOOL man has been fined after trying to steal alcohol from a supermarket and post office.

Sebastian Rosiak had a bottle of wine taken from him by a security guard at the town’s Morrisons store on January 25 this year but police were called when the 41-year-old was seen walking awkwardly as he left the store.

Police found him holding his groin trying to prevent two more bottles of alcohol – which he had stolen from a different supermarket – falling out of his jeans.

The post office incident had involved Rosiak stealing a case of beer on August 11 last year, but it had been retrieved by a member of the public because Rosiak was so drunk.

Rosiak admitted two counts of theft when he appeared at Welshpool Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, May 16.

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Prosecutor Helen Tench said the case of Amstel beer taken from the post office in Welshpool had been worth £10, while the bottles of alcohol taken in January from Aldi had been valued at £14.99.

“It was 1pm on August 11, when police received a report from a member of the public that a drunk male had stolen a case of beer,” said Mrs Tench.

“They retrieved the beer and handed it back to staff at the post office. PC Hewitt arrested the defendant. There was a language barrier but the defendant understood.

“He was interviewed and admitted the offence. He was handed a conditional discharge but he did not comply.

“The second offence occurred on January 25 this year around 3.30pm, when police received a report from security at Morrisons informing them the defendant had picked up a bottle of wine and tried to put it under his shirt.

“A security guard took it from him. He noticed the defendant walking awkwardly as he was leaving. The guard believed he was still concealing something so called the police.

“Officers attended; the defendant was stood holding his hands by his groin trying to stop two large items falling down his jeans. He was found to be concealing two bottles of alcohol.

“He claimed to have purchased them from Poundland but he had no receipt. He was arrested.

“In custody he displayed increasing levels of intoxication. He could not be understood and was acting in an unusual manner."

Rosiak is currently the subject of a court order after he admitted taking a swig of whisky and placing the bottle back on a shelf before stroking a female member of staff’s buttocks in a Welshpool supermarket last September.

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Rosiak was handed an 18-month community order last month and is now signed on the sex offenders register for five years.

Owain Jones, acting for Rosiak, of Berriew Street, Welshpool, asked magistrates to let that order continue and fine his client for these theft matters.

“He doesn’t recall either offence, it’s clear he was highly intoxicated on both occasions,” said Mr Jones.

“He accepts the case against him. Knowing he is on a community order, my submission is that it should be left alone and a financial penalty be considered for these offences.

“He is complying with an alcohol abstinence tag and he is looking for work.”

Rosiak was fined £40 and told to pay £85 costs and a £16 surcharge.