Trying to clear his debts, a man was spotted shoplifting at Tesco, in Shepton Mallet, with a female accomplice.

A security officer watching Jamie Smith on CCTV saw him stuff computer games down his trousers and then do the same for his companion before they both left the store without paying.

The 35-year-old, of The Greenway, Fishponds, Bristol, was arrested and brought before South Somerset Magistrates in custody after failing to turn up for a previous court hearing.

He pleaded guilty that on December 28 at Shepton Mallet, jointly with Leanne Drennan, he stole three Nintendo Wii games, eight PS3 games and an Xbox game worth £388.26 belonging to Tesco.

Prosecutor Christine Hart said that after the two people were seen acting suspiciously a security officer saw Smith put the games inside his trousers after removing them from their casing.

"He then removed more games and put them down the rear of the co-defendant's trousers and they were both stopped on their way out," she said.

"When they were searched security officers found 12 computer DVD games between them and when Smith was interviewed he admitted the offence."

The court was told that the defendant had managed to stay out of trouble for two years but got himself into debt and went about clearing his debts in the wrong way.

The magistrates imposed a 12-month conditional discharge and made no order for costs due to his lack of means.

The co-defendant has still to attend court in relation to the matter alleged against her.