A SHOPLIFTER who failed to attend court had been ‘badly beaten up’ and didn’t know if it was morning or night, his defence solicitor said.

Mark Whitehead, 37, was due to appear at Workington Magistrates’ Court to face a shoplifting charge on April 22 but did not attend.

He pleaded guilty to theft from a shop and failing to surrender to court bail when he appeared before magistrates on Monday.

Outlining the theft, prosecutor Pamela Fee said the defendant had entered Tesco in Workington on the evening of December 4 last year and stole two bottles of Baileys worth £30.

Whitehead had pushed through the security gate and then ran out of the store, making no attempt to pay.

He was later identified from CCTV footage under Operation Retail.

John Cooper, defending, said: “I apologise on Mr Whitehead’s behalf. It’s a guilty plea at the first opportunity.

“He’s been quite badly beaten up in the last few weeks.

“He stopped me in town and asked the time. I said, ‘half nine’. He asked if that was morning or night. I’m not surprised he got his dates mixed up.”

Whitehead, of Fisher Street, Workington, was fined £80 and ordered to pay £30 in compensation. He must also pay £85 costs and a £32 victim surcharge.