A NORTHWICH man has been punished for stealing meat worth £50 from Lidl in the town centre.

Luke Vincent Weedall, of Nicholas Avenue, Rudheath, entered the Chester Way store on October 27, where he helped himself to the meat products.

The 33-year-old was actually the subject of a suspended sentence order at the time of the theft, after carrying out a similar act in the town on December 21 last year.

Weedall was appearing at Chester Magistrates Court on Monday, November 29 where he was handed a community order.

As part of that order, he must complete 60 hours of unpaid work and was told to pay £50 compensation to the supermarket chain.

Magistrates decided not to activate the suspended sentence on this occasion due to the good progress Weedall has been making with the probation service.

They instead extended the operational period of the order, meaning the committal of any further offence could land Weedall in prison for 26 weeks, with that sentence suspended for two years.

The defendant will continue with his drug rehabilitation programme and must also pay court costs of £85 and a £95 surcharge to fund victim services.