A thief who stole chocolate and other goods from a Sainsbury's caused more than £350 of damage to a door as he legged it from the scene.

Jamie Hopkins, 38, was challenged by security after taking the items without paying at the store in Dartford but he ran off through a fire exit and damaged it in the process.

Hopkins, of Browning Road in the town, appeared in court on June 18 and admitted shoplifting from the store on June 13 but denied a charge of criminal damage in relation to the door.

He also admitted stealing air fresheners and laundry items from the Wilko store in Dartford on June 16.

However, when he appeared at Medway Magistrates' Court on Monday, September 26, he changed his plea to guilty over the damage to fire door.

Debbie Jones, prosecuting, told the court the repair cost was £359 and the chocolate and other goods he stole were worth about £150. The items he took from Wilko were valued at just over £95.

District Judge Stephen Leake also heard Hopkins disputed how much the items were worth and said he only took about six or seven chocolate bars and three laundry items and a candle from Wilko and that the values were nowhere near as much as the prosecutor put forward.

Judge Leake also heard Hopkins had been reckless when he pushed the door hard rather than causing the damage intentionally.

The court was also told he has a long record of offending, including similar thefts which he carried out to feed his drug habit, but he is trying to better his life and stop offending.

Judge Leake said: "You are 38 years old and have a very long record of offending which have been carried out mainly to feed your addition to Class A drugs.

"Frankly, I don't know what to do with you. Most people say in this situation they are turning their life around, should I try something different? I am going to give you a chance in a sense."

He decided to give Hopkins a six-month sentence but suspended the term for 12 months. He also ordered Hopkins pay £350 compensation to Sainsbury's and £50 compensation to Wilko.