A thief has been banned from Bluewater for a year after stealing more than £950 of goods from the Apple store.

Mate Iobidze, 32, took items over three occasions from the Greenhithe shop in July and August but on the third attempt was stopped by security as he left.

Iobidze was later charged with three counts of shoplifting which he admitted when he appeared before Medway magistrates on September 14.

The court heard Iobidze stole two black Dre Beats headphones valued at £599.90 on July 17, but returned twice to steal more items.

Prosecutor Debbie Jones said: “On July 17 he went into the Apple store and put the headphones in a bag and left without paying. Then on August 7 he went back to the same store.”

On this occasion Iobidze, of Holloway Road, London, took a Microsoft Office 365 family one-year subscription software pack as well as two black Magic Trackpads valued at £377.95.

Ms Jones added: “Security tried to stop him, but he left with the items and then on August 14 he concealed other items but was stopped from leaving the store and the items were recovered.”

On this occasion, Iobidze had taken two white Magic Trackpads valued at £258.

Ms Jones added: “He made full admissions in interview and is of previous good character.”

The court also heard Iobidze had been in the country for five months after arriving from Georgia and was applying for leave to remain in the UK but was not able to work and stole the times to be able to live.

Magistrates placed Iobidze on a 12-month community order which will see him carry out 120 hours of unpaid work and banned him from entering Bluewater shopping centre for a year.

He was also ordered to pay £976.95 compensation, a £114 victim surcharge and £85 court costs.