A man due in court for theft was arrested after leaving the building before his case could be heard.

Hojat Fatahi, of Elm Court in Marsh, claimed to his solicitor that he was nipping to the shop.

But the brazen 30-year-old swiped a bottle of whisky from the supermarket.

Police were called to the store just as magistrates were issuing a warrant for his arrest.

He was jailed for five months as it transpired that he was already subject to a suspended term of imprisonment.

Fatahi had been due at Kirklees Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday (April 14) over the theft of a £140 drill from the town’s B&Q store.

He had hidden the drill in the car park and when he was detained three other stolen items were found on him.

Fatahi was bailed for his court appearance.

But by 11am when he should have been in the building, he was stealing a £34 bottle of whisky from Tesco in Huddersfield.

Fatahi’s solicitor Bob Carr explained that his client had a severe problem with drugs and shoplifted to fund his habit.

He told the court: “He said he would nip out to the shop to buy some cigarettes.

“It was a long (court) list and I foolishly said yes.

“He was arrested from that shop and couldn’t return to court.

“It’s not often I have little to say but with this particular case there’s little to say.

“He’s fully aware of the outcome of these proceedings.”

Magistrates activated Fatahi’s 20 week suspended sentence.

They also imposed eight weeks for each of the new shoplifting offences to run concurrently.