A THIEF was caught red-handed stealing electrical goods from a store after an off-duty security guard recognised the man and followed him into the shop.

A THIEF was caught red-handed stealing electrical goods from a store after an off-duty security guard recognised the man and followed him into the shop.

Mark Fitzpatrick, 22, from Underwood Road, High Wycombe, was walking along High Street, High Wycombe, when the guard followed him into the Argos store, the court heard.

Balbir Seyan, prosecuting, told Wycombe magistrates on Friday that the guard had seen Fitzpatrick on previous occasions in the shop and on this occasion saw him remove security tags from Hitachi stereo speakers, worth £119, and then take them from the store.

Mr Seyan said Fitzpatrick admitted to police that he had left the store without paying for them.

James Smith, in mitigation for Fitzpatrick, who had pleaded guilty, said the goods were recovered and his client had admitted the offence at the earliest opportunity.

Mr Smith added: 'He was fully co-operative when he was stopped at the store and continued to be so. Quite clearly it is a crime committed in full view of the security staff with no attempt to conceal it.

'You might feel, as I do, it is an inept attempt at theft.'

Mr Smith said Fitzpatrick was a heroin addict who was trying to wean himself off the drug and was currently unfit for work.

Fitzpatrick, who has previous convictions for theft, was fined £80 and ordered to pay £55 costs.