Booze thief shouted racist abuse as he was caught in the act

A BOOZE thief shouted vile racist abuse at a supermarket security worker when he was caught in the act.

Alan Cunningham was trying to make off from Morrisons, in North Shields, with a bag full of vodka when he was stopped at the exit.

A court heard that the 42-year-old immediately took exception to being confronted and turned abusive, calling the worker an offensive racist name.

But his racist slur was overheard by an off-duty police officer, who arrested Cunningham.

Now, the thief, of Dunstanburgh Close, in Walker, is facing a possible prison sentence after he pleaded guilty to theft and a racially-aggravated public order offence.

He also admitted separate offences of driving while disqualified and with no insurance.

Sue Baker, prosecuting at North Tyneside Magistrates’ Court, said Cunningham was spotted inside the Morrisons store on January 30 this year.

She continued: “The defendant attempted to leave with a bag full of concealed items, which he hadn’t paid for. He was confronted by a security guard.

“The store manager also intervened, causing a bottle of vodka to smash.

“The defendant became abusive and called the security guard a [offensive name].”

The court heard that Cunningham was arrested having been overheard by an off-duty police officer and was searched.

He was found to be in possession of small tinfoil wraps, believed to have been used to cover security tags on bottle of alcohol.

When asked why he had them, Cunningham replied “To do my thing”.