A man fled from court – seconds before a district judge sentenced him to custody for shoplifting.

Saqib Bhatti left Kirklees Magistrates’ Court while Judge Michael Fanning was deliberating his sentence for shoplifting.

The 33-year-old had admitted thefts from stores in the Dewsbury area.

Bhatti was at risk of being returned to custody after being jailed earlier in the year for a string of thefts.

He vanished moments before prison guards entered Court One to take him into custody to start his 16-week sentence for the new offences.

Bhatti, of Trueman Avenue in Heckmondwike, had arrived an hour-and-a-half late for his hearing in Huddersfield.

He claimed that he had struggled to scrape together funds to get to court but had managed to purchase a return bus ticket for £4.50.

He admitted stealing cosmetics from B&M Bargains in Dewsbury on August 8.

Prosecutor Alex Bozman said that CCTV footage showed him shoving 12 cans of deodorant into a bag before leaving the Wilton Street store.

He was challenged when he returned to the shop a week later.

Bhatti’s response to staff was: “I got a tenner for them, why didn’t you stop me last week?”

He tested positive for cocaine following his arrest.

Bhatti also asked for another theft from the shop plus a theft from Tesco Express in the town to be considered when sentencing him.

The offences put him in breach of a conditional discharge made in July for an offence of shoplifting.

He was also at risk of being recalled to prison after being released on licence following a 28-week jail term.

This was imposed in April by Kirklees magistrates for five thefts committed by Bhatti.

His solicitor Ben Tighe admitted that he had an ‘unimpressive’ record.

He said that his client was continuing to use drugs but had expressed a willingness to try and get himself off them.

Judge Fanning left the room to deliberate his sentence but Bhatti walked out of the door to the court shortly before his return.

A court usher confirmed that he had left the building.

As Judge Fanning sentenced him to custody he confirmed that a warrant would now be issued for his immediate arrest.

He added: “There’s no reason why I should not sentence him, he will serve 16 weeks in total. I’ve no confidence he’s minded to change his ways.

“He’s a committed thief and unable to help himself.”