A SHOPLIFTER ended up the loser after stealing from a Huddersfield shop.

The thief not only had the frozen curry he had taken snatched back by staff who pursued him -  but also lost his expensive leather jacket containing his house keys.

The drama began when the thief was spotted acting suspiciously in the Jack Fulton freezer shop on New Street at 4.40pm on Saturday.

He stuffed a £1.49 frozen curry into a plastic bag and ran out, but was chased by shop manager Jason West, 27, and shop assistant Lee Shaw, 21.

They caught up with the thief outside the nearby Wilkinson's store and while grappling with him, snatched back the curry and ended up pulling his jacket off as he wriggled to escape.

Lee then chased the thief all the way through town and into the Kingsgate shopping centre where the man fled into the multi-storey car park and hid between the cars before escaping.

While the pair were at the police station after the drama, another assistant, Kevin Spears, 21, managed to get six packets of bacon back from another shoplifter who fled.

Jason said: "For the sake of a £1.49 curry, the shoplifter has lost a leather jacket worth probably more than £100."

"I was working on the till at the time and the man looked dodgy from the moment he came in.

"He suddenly put the curry into his bag and ran out so we were quickly after him.

"The jacket was really heavy so it must be real leather and worth a bit.

"For the sake of a £1.49 curry, the shoplifter has lost a leather jacket worth probably more than £100.

"We don't see why anyone should get away with stealing from us. I mean, our frozen food is cheap enough as it is.''

And while Jason and Lee were at the police station after the drama, another 21-year-old shop assistant, Kevin Spears, managed to get six packets of bacon back from another shoplifter who fled from the shop.

The thief who lost his jacket is white, in his late 20s to mid 30s and unshaven.

He wore glasses, light-coloured trousers and a black hat.

Anyone who knows who he is should contact Pc Mark Boardman on 01484 436659.

(this article is an extended version of the one that appeared in the Examiner today).