A Narberth man who said he was "desperate for a drink" when he took alcohol from a shop, appeared in court this week charged with theft.

Thirty-year-old Christopher David John O'Connell, of Garfield Gardens, appeared at Haverfordwest magistrates court on Tuesday, to plead guilty to a charge of stealing two bottles of cider and a hamburger, to the value of £6.97, from Spar in Narberth High Street.

Prosecutor Lesley Harbon told the court that at around 7.30 am on Sunday, February 1, Mr. O'Connell entered the store and asked a shop assistant who recognised him if he could have some "ciggies on the tab".

"She explained that the store didn't do credit and the defendant proceeded to walk around the shop and at one point was seen with two bottles of cider in his hands," said Ms Harbon.

The shop assistant said to him "I hope you're going to pay for them" and continued serving customers at the till, before Mr. O'Connell was seen leaving the store with the items.

The assistant followed him out and spotted the defendant down a lane at the side of a nearby chapel and asked him what he thought he was doing, to which he replied "I was desperate for a drink."

The police were called and the defendant admitted what he had done.

Mr. O'Connell's solicitor, Jonathan Webb, told the court that alcoholism was the root of the matter for his client.

"He was drunk at the time and can't remember too much, but fully accepts his culpability. Mr. O'Connell is taking steps and going about it the right way to deal with his alcoholism," Mr. Webb said.

Mr. O'Connell was given a 12-month conditional discharge and ordered to pay costs of £85 and a £15 victim surcharge.