A SHOPLIFTER selected a rucksack and then filled it with bottles of booze before letting himself out of an Accrington store through the fire exit.

Blackburn magistrates heard Jordan Hargreaves got away with over £500 worth of booze.

Hargreaves, 18, of Milton Street, Burnley, pleaded guilty to theft of a rucksack and alcohol from Tesco on June 29, criminal damage to a fire door on the same day and theft of alcohol worth £96 from the same store on May 15. He was remanded on bail until December 21 for the preparation of a pre-sentence report.

Gillian Kennaugh, prosecuting, said Hargreaves was seen selecting large amounts of alcohol and a rucksack before going to the toilets.

"He emerged carrying a very full rucksack and left through the fire exit which was damaged in the process," said Ms Kennaugh.

"When CCTV was checked he was seen selecting bottles of alcohol on May 15 and leaving through the same exit."

David Lawson, defending, said the more significant theft was committed in company with another man who was more criminally sophisticated.