A 27-year-old shoplifter was “off his face on drugs” when he was challenged by security staff at Tesco and dropped and smashed a bottle of wine he had concealed in his jacket.

David Galbraith, of Derrin Road, Cornagrade, Enniskillen, pleaded guilty at Fermanagh Court to stealing the wine and was sentenced to two months in prison, suspended for 18 months.

A prosecutor explained that at 8.15am on Friday, April 18, Galbraith and another man entered Tesco and went to the supermarket’s drinks section. Security staff watched on CCTV as Galbraith lifted a bottle of wine from a shelf and put it under his jacket. He and his companion then lifted beer and other items and took them to the check out. They scanned and paid for all of the items except for the bottle of red wine, costing £5.99. As they were leaving the supermarket they were approached by security staff and Galbraith dropped the bottle of red wine, smashing it on the ground. He attempted to run from the store but his escape was blocked. The till receipt was checked and the bottle of wine was not on it.

Defence barrister Gavin Cairns told the court Galbraith had since written to the manager of Tesco to apologise.

He referred to Galbraith’s three-page criminal record and said he has had his difficulties through his consumption of alcohol. In September 2012 he was convicted of a “serious” offence involving the possession and supply of Class A drugs and given a suspended prison sentence. He was more than three-quarter way through that two year period of suspension when he committed this offence, which was of a different nature.

Deputy District Judge Liam McStay said that on the face of it the shoplifting was of a different nature but the offence was committed when Galbraith was “off his face on drugs”.

He told Galbraith drugs were at the root of his offending behaviour and “you continue to use Class A drugs on a regular basis”.

Imposing a suspended prison sentence, the Deputy District Judge told Galbraith: “I’m putting the ball in your court. If you go to custody it will be your fault.”