A MAN stole from a pharmacy – so that he could treat his foot condition.

James Righton, of Swan Lane, Lockwood, was before Huddersfield magistrates yesterday.

He pleaded guilty to stealing the healthcare items from Boots on October 13.

Magistrates were told that the 30-year-old was caught by staff putting the footcare products into his rucksack. The items, worth £20, were recovered and Righton immediately admitted the theft to police.

Mike Sisson-Pell, defending, described the case as ‘unusual’.

He told magistrates: “Usually these kinds of offences involve stealing something to sell on for drugs.

“You will see that the items here were for footcare. Mr Righton has a fungicidal infection to the feet. Having no money at the time he was in Boots he saw the treatment for feet and he steals it. It was a relatively clumsy attempt.”

Magistrates gave Righton a 12 month community order with 40 hours of unpaid work.